Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry updates exhibits

Two longstanding exhibits at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry received some upgrades recently to make them more informative and user-friendly.

The Empire State Express Number 999, on its way to the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, set the record as the first steam locomotive to exceed 100 miles per hour. The imposing, 37-foot-long engine has been on exhibit at MSI for many years, but visitors were never able to get an up-close look at the inside of the vintage engine cab. CSSI created a platform and staircases out of materials and finishes appropriate to the train’s era, and now visitors can stand inside the cab. CSSI also created the realistic-looking coal for the train’s tender.

Chicago Scenic also helped update MSI’s aviation exhibit. The first phase of this project included custom railings and reader-rail panels that MSI will use to place information about the exhibit’s replica of the first plane built by Orville and Wilbur Wright. The second phase includes new LED-illuminated light box panels that contain graphical information. See photos in the next newsletter.