Museum of Science and Industry

What Museum of Science and Industry does

The Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Griffin MSI), founded in 1933 and housed in the only remaining structure from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit science museum on a 14-acre footprint in Chicago's Hyde Park. The institution serves 1M+ visitors annually and presents more than 25 permanent exhibits including the U-505 Submarine (a national war memorial and the only German U-boat captured in WWII housed in the U.S.), Science Storms with a 40-foot tornado, the Henry Crown Space Center, Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle, the Coal Mine, and the Giant Dome Theater with five-story wraparound laser projection. Temporary exhibitions such as Marvel's Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing and Anne Frank The Exhibition layer additional premium-priced experiences onto the base offering.

The business model is multi-stream and diversified. Revenue is generated through general admission and premium exhibit ticketing, three annual membership tiers ($95 Individual, $145 Dual, $195 Family), corporate sponsorships and memberships, private event hosting (up to 12,000-guest venue rentals), donations and planned giving, dining and retail including online merchandise and Curiosity Kits, and educational programs including summer camps ($500-$1,200 per camper) and educator professional development. The museum is led by President and CEO Dr. Chevy Humphrey and operates with 101-250 employees supplemented by 500+ active volunteers who contributed 13,697 hours in 2024.

Customer segments span schools and educators (Illinois PreK-12 with free admission, 25,000+ students at STE(A)M events annually, 1,000+ teachers in professional learning), families and youth (camps, member events, birthday parties), corporate and private event planners (weddings, corporate functions, proms), and local/discount seekers served through Illinois-resident free days, Chicago-resident discounts, ASTC reciprocal access, and library partnerships with Chicago Public Library, RAILS, and IHLS. Distribution is multi-channel: self-serve online ticketing, phone sales, walk-up counters, group sales for 15+ visitors, Chicago CityPASS bundling, and the ASTC Passport Program providing reciprocal access at 300+ science centers worldwide.

Name

Museum of Science and Industry

Legal name

Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

Website

https://griffinmsi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is a 1933-founded nonprofit science museum in Chicago's Hyde Park, serving 1M+ annual visitors through 25+ permanent exhibits, premium temporary exhibitions, educational programs, memberships, and large-scale private event hosting on its 14-acre historic campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: General admission tickets plus additional tickets for special exhibitions, tours (Coal Mine, U-505 On-Board), Giant Dome Theater films, and special experiences. Pricing varies by age group and experience type.
2. Memberships: Annual membership tiers (Individual $95, Dual $145, Family $195) providing free admission, parking benefits, discounted tickets to special exhibits and theater, and member-only access.
3. Donations and Individual Giving: Tax-deductible donations supporting exhibits, education programs, building preservation. Includes Rosenwald Society for planned giving.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate memberships and sponsorships providing employee benefits, brand visibility through exhibit sponsorship and educational programming support.
5. Private Event Hosting: Venue rental for weddings, corporate events, proms, reunions, and holiday parties in various spaces including the Rotunda, U-505 area, Henry Crown Space Center, and entire museum (up to 12,000 guests).
6. Dining and Retail: Museum Kitchen cafe, gift shops, and online store offering merchandise, Curiosity Kits ($25 each), and gift cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Griffin MSI is a nonprofit science museum offering interactive permanent and temporary exhibits, immersive theater experiences, guided tours, and STE(A)M educational programs for general public visitors, families, schools, and educators. The museum operates a five-story wraparound Giant Dome Theater, hosts temporary exhibitions such as Marvel's Spider-Man and Anne Frank, and houses unique artifacts including the captured German U-505 submarine. Ancillary offerings include summer camps, professional learning for teachers, private event venue rentals, memberships, dining, and retail.

Product overview

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is a science museum offering a diverse portfolio of permanent and temporary exhibits, theater experiences, tours, educational programs, and venue rental services. The museum features over 25 permanent exhibits including Science Storms (with a 40-foot tornado), the U-505 Submarine, Henry Crown Space Center, and Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle. Temporary exhibitions include Marvel's Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing and Anne Frank The Exhibition. The Giant Dome Theater offers five-story wraparound film experiences. The museum provides educational programs including camps, Learning Labs, and professional development for educators. Event hosting services allow private rentals for weddings, corporate events, and large gatherings. Membership programs offer year-round access with various benefit tiers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission
• Marvel's Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing — The Exhibition
• Anne Frank The Exhibition
• Powering the Future
• Henry Crown Space Center
• Science Storms
• U-505 Submarine Exhibit
• Coal Mine Tour
• U-505 On-Board Tour
• Giant Dome Theater
• Event Hosting Services
• Summer Camps
• Curiosity Day Camps
• Museum Learning Labs
• Professional Learning Programs
• Museum Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1 million guests annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Bank of AmericaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of America is the presenting sponsor of Marvel's Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing - The Exhibition at Griffin MSI. This is a major sponsorship supporting the popular temporary exhibition featuring rare comic books, movie props, costumes, and interactive installations.
• Anne Frank HouseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnne Frank House in Amsterdam partnered with Griffin MSI to present Anne Frank The Exhibition in Chicago - the first museum in the Midwest and only the second U.S. city to host this exhibition featuring more than 130 original artifacts.
• CityPASScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChicago CityPASS partnership offers bundled tickets to 5 Chicago attractions including Griffin MSI, providing up to 50% savings for tourists. CityPASS holders receive admission to permanent exhibits and one special timed-entry experience.
• Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASTC Passport Program allows Griffin MSI members to visit over 300 science centers worldwide for free or discounted admission. Members from other ASTC institutions more than 90 miles from Griffin MSI receive reciprocal free admission.
• Explore More Illinois (RAILS and IHLS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with regional library systems RAILS and IHLS allows Illinois library cardholders to reserve free or discounted admission to Griffin MSI through the Explore More Illinois portal.
• Chicago Public LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Chicago Public Library for Discovery Packs - backpacks full of educational activities that can be checked out like books from local branches, bringing science learning home.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/msichicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/msichicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/griffinmsi
• TikToktiktok.com/@griffinmsi
• Xx.com/msichicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Museum of Science and Industry