Art Institute of Chicago

In 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago was founded as both a museum and school for the fine arts as part of the city's rebuilding from the Great Fire of 1871. It has since grown into an essential center of active learning, one that contextualizes and inspires human creativity through its impressive collections and educational programming. Believing in investigation, innovation, education, and dialogue, the Art Institute of Chicago collects, preserves, and interprets works of art of the highest quality, representing the world's diverse artistic traditions.

To bring a greater appreciation and understanding of art to the public, the museum has grown in both mission and in footprint. The Art Institute built a research library in 1901 and expanded eight times over the following decades, including the addition of the Modern Wing in 2009, which increased the museum's size by almost 35 percent.