CHICAGO — The Field Museum’s newest exhibit, “Reptiles Alive!”, invites families to explore the world of snakes, lizards, turtles — and even Chicago’s own infamous alligator, Chance the Snapper.
The exhibit, which opened June 20 and runs through April 5, 2026, brings a mix of live animals, skeletal models, 3D visuals, and interactive displays — all centered around reptiles found both in global habitats and Chicago’s own backyard.
“You don’t have to go to the tropics or Australia to see reptiles. You can see 50 species just around Chicago,” said Sara Ruane, associate curator of herpetology and lead designer of the exhibit.
Local Wildlife on Display
Visitors to the 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive museum will discover a range of native reptiles, including:
-
Snapping turtles from the Chicago River
-
Garter snakes and painted turtles
-
Spiny soft-shelled turtles
-
Legless lizards like the slender glass lizard
The immersive experience includes a thermal camera station that lets visitors see themselves as a snake would — using heat signatures.
Chance the Snapper Makes a Comeback
One of the star attractions is Chance the Snapper, the once-abandoned alligator famously rescued from Humboldt Park Lagoon in 2019. He became a viral sensation after evading local trappers for nearly a week before being safely captured by Alligator Robb — Florida-based trapper Frank Robb, who also appears in the exhibit.
Chance now resides at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida and has grown significantly — measuring over 7 feet long.
“Chance represents the sometimes strange relationship people have with wild animals in urban settings,” Ruane said.
A Tribute to Herpetology’s Past
The exhibit is dedicated to Karl P. Schmidt, the Field Museum’s curator of herpetology from 1922 to 1955, who famously kept a scientific diary documenting his own fatal snake bite — later published as the Diary of a Snake Bite.
Ruane says the tribute and the exhibit both reflect a deeper message: reptiles are everywhere, and learning about local species can be just as meaningful as studying animals in faraway rainforests.
Plan Your Visit
-
Exhibit: Reptiles Alive!
-
Where: Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
-
Dates: Open now through April 5, 2026
-
Who It’s For: Family-friendly, interactive, educational for all ages
What Chicago reptile do you want to learn more about? Share your picks — or memories of Chance the Snapper — at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com and help spread appreciation for our city’s wild side.
