Milwaukee Public Museum

The permanent exhibits here are truly amazing. The first natural history diorama was built here and set the standard for museums all over the world. Topics range from dinosaurs and bugs, to life in a European Village and life in turn-of-the-century Milwaukee. There's a butterfly pavilion, a two-story rain forest, decorative arts from various periods of history, and exhibits about Native American Indians, pre-Columbian times, the Arctic and Asia. But to give you a better idea of just how big the place is, here are some facts: the museum has over 5 million objects in its collection, some 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, 6 themed gift shops and a café, plus auditoriums, an IMAX theater and a library.