15
by djimbe
The Museum of Science and Industry opened in '33, so it's close but it's also in the only remaining real building from the Columbian Exposition from 1893-4, which I think gives it a pass. I grew up in that building, quite literally as I've been going regular since I was about 5 and I'm 60 fuckin 1 now. There was a steel mill diorama that was the coolest to my 9 year old self and it's been my life's work since I was 21. Not sure if that's a coincidence or not.
Also the Field Museum which was in the MSI building for a bit then moved into it's current digs in the '20's.
Both championed and bank rolled by super wealthy people (the people in charge of Sears and Marshall Field ffs) who actually wanted to do useful shit with some of their gains to support society as a whole. Yeah, they were capital C Capital, but what museum or cultural touchstone has the last 30 years of wealthy fucks given us?