Museum President Joe Shacter says much of the credit for the Nature Museum's success is due to improvements to the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, which included adding international species to its live butterfly array, as well as the opening of the special exhibit, "Grossology," a comical and hands-on approach to human anatomy. "My theory is that people were interested in the chance to laugh a little," Shacter says. "Every crusty, smelly, stinky and oozy thing kids want to know about was explained in an interactive way."

And they don't see attendance going south anytime soon: February 8 opens "American Originals—Treasures from the National Archives," a changing display of thirty of the "most treasured American documents." Features include Abraham Lincoln's original Emancipation Proclamation, showing for four days beginning February 15.

At the Field Museum, year-end totals look like they'll end above 1.7 million visitors, with more than 200,000 having rolled in for "Cleopatra." "We were back on track with attendance by October," says Media Relations Manager Nancy O'Shea. "On October 20 we opened 'Cleopatra,' and by then we were doing top business." In fact, O'Shea notes, 50 percent of the people coming into the museum these days are also going to see "Cleopatra" (running through March 3). On the horizon are two new major exhibitions: "Chocolate" (opening February 14, of course) and "Pearls," featuring nearly a half-million individual pearls (opening June 28).

For the Museum of Science and Industry, without a mega exhibit like last fall's "Titanic," getting back on track took longer. "It was definitely not one of our better years," says public relations rep Elizabeth Keating. "Obviously that was because of September 11. But the previous year was a banner year because we had 'Titanic,' so it's always hard to compare." The museum's annual "Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light" exhibit gave things a boost. And into this year, new exhibits include the permanent "Genetics: Decoding Life," plus the January 18 opening of "Hip Hop: The Culture, The Sound, The Science," on loan from the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame through May 27.

The Museum of Contemporary Art saw a similar situation, says PR Coordinator Renee Jessup. "There was an initial drop in attendance right after September 11, but in the months following, the numbers steadily returned to the planned projections," she says. "By Thanksgiving weekend, when we offered three days of free admission, the attendance numbers set a record level." The MCA also has two major exhibitions on the way: "Mies in America" and "Gary Simmons."

Overall, O'Shea says, the cultural institutions seem to be back on their feet. "We're doing very well. I think this is going to be a real good year."

Additional reporting by Julie Banashak.

Also by Elaine Richardson

COSELL & CO.
It's not quite the textbook definition of mayhem—no real maiming going on—but it's damn entertaining. Not into football? It doesn't matter—we're talking TV history and pop culture iconography here, not sports.
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IT'S ALIVE!
The mutations area offers a look at mutant white-eyed flies, while the genetic engineering area offers frogs from the University of Virginia, which have been "engineered" to produce green fluorescence in the eyes.
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BALANCING ACT
"For the first time ever in history we're doing the torch run in a way where people can really see it," O'Connor says. Even on long distance trips. The company has provided a specially built Avalanche, which carries an open flaming cauldron (designed by scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology) so you can see the 2000-degree fire burning on the highway.
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HOT AIR
As this local institution opens its fourteenth season, Will Clinger and Co. prove that, without a doubt, they've still got it. And "Wild Chicago" continues to succeed by thinking outside the box (or outside the city, as it were), while still offering something intrinsically local and quirky.
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FILM VAULT
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THE GIFT GUIDE
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ALL ABOARD
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BRAIN FREEZE
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ANALYZE THIS
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THE GOOD FIGHT
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