The Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC was one of the most amazing experiences I had in that city. So I’m thrilled, if you haven’t heard of it yet, to tell you about an equally moving educational center in the Midwest. Based on what you’ll learn here, I guarantee you will want to visit this center immediately, and you’ll definitely want to include it in Chicago educational tours.

Though a well-established educational center, this museum is located in a  new facility. Each new story, exhibit, and educational center – all dedicated on Sunday, April 19, 2009 – represent a brand new focus on the Holocaust and the lessons we must take away from it. President Bill Clinton gave the key note address at the opening. His prominent endorsement was only fitting for a museum and learning center that should become a centerpiece for the education of students everywhere.

Remembering the Holocaust brings with it all kinds of opportunity for teaching. Administrators can focus on compassion and empathy, on bigotry, and how these things look in our world today. This museum embraces each of these learning opportunities, presenting them in fascinating exhibits, through the words and pictures of survivors. Students will even understand the lessons in the context of genocides that have taken place more recently and those still happening today.

One prominent section of the Illinois Holocaust Museum is designed specifically for younger children. You can confidently share this exhibit with your middle graders, who will appreciate its interactive and hands-on activities, which help students place themselves in the world and literally view their impact on it. Through these exhibits, students will be inspired to “Make a Difference.”

A beautiful facility, an incomparable learning experience, and an important time of remembrance, the Illinois Holocaust Museum is one of Chicago’s newest and brightest features for students. Don’t forget it when planning your next educational tour.

Photo by kongtemplation on Flickr.

Fountains tend to be like a centerpiece in any given city. They’re a great place to lunch, to rest, to meet up with friends or family members at any given moment in the day. In summer months, they’re a place to feel refreshed. And besides all this, they’re often a place to showcase the best of artistic design.

This week we’ll highlight some popular fountains in some of the cities we love for student travel. Today’s feature is an absolute must for Chicago student tours. It’s one of the most popular places in the city and one of the most innovative fountains in the nation.

Crown Fountain is located in Millennium Park, known for the unique design of several of its visual highlights. The fountain is a digital display as you see here (photo by Serge Melki on Flickr) of actual Chicago faces. Their mouths then actually appear to spray the fountain’s water. This design is like traditional fountain and modern art combined. It’s a favorite play place for children and popular attraction for tourists and residents alike. So much of Chicago’s charm is based in architectural and artistic design. Say hello to Crown Fountain, just another famous part of the charm.

Are you ready for the first attraction in our list of fascinating museums perfect for student tours?  This is the Field Museum, and it is part of a museum complex in Chicago’s Grant Park that includes two other world-class museums.  You may remember Grant Park as the setting for President Obama’s historic election night victory speech.  It is considered Chicago’s front yard, and together with that history and three amazing museums, it is an excellent choice for Chicago student tours.

The Field Museum was named for one of its benefactors.  You can see from this photo (by DanJBailey on Flickr) that the building itself is somewhat breathtaking, and that is just the reaction students get from some of the amazing exhibits inside.  Right now until October of this year, student will love the exhibit into the fascinating world of pirates.  The museum is also famous for Sue, the most complete, most famous fossilized T-rex in the world.  Other once-living legends at the Field Museum include Bushman, a gorilla who lived in Lincoln Park Zoo – one of the oldest zoos in the nation – and the infamous Tsavo lions that once terrorized East Africa (brought to film in The Ghost and the Darkness with Val Kilmer).

Further permanent exhibits include Bird Habitats, Animals of Africa, and Animal Biology.  Plus, the museum offers amazing temporary exhibits throughout the year.  You can check out their website to learn exactly what they’ll be offering when you’re in town.  The Field Museum makes every exhibit a beautiful way for a student to experience scientific discovery.  I guarantee they’ll be fascinated, but you may even find they’ve been inspired – in which case the future just gained another valuable scientist or two.  Do not miss that opportunity – nor the chance to visit this powerful museum and complete  world-class museum complex.

Welcome to an exciting blog in which we convince you just how amazing it is to take your student peers outside of the classroom to discover the big, wide world.  

This blog will take you front and center to live shows around the country that you don’t want to miss.  We’ll highlight the best cities for student travel destinations.  We’ll showcase the attractions that make each city great.  And we’ll dangle before you all the incomparable thrills of student travel, so that you can’t wait to get out there and experience it for yourself.

Pictured here is Grant Park where our country’s newest president gave his victory speech on the 2008 historic election night.  Did you know Grant Park is known as Chicago’s front yard?  And that it contains one of the most popular museum complexes in the country?  These are kind of discoveries you’ll make every day on our blog as you celebrate with us the awesome opportunities for student travel.  Check back soon for more exciting attractions.  And feel free to leave specific questions in the comments section!  Not sure what student travel is all about or how to begin?  This is the place to find out!

(Photo of Grant Park by jetzenpolis on Flickr).