user
Museum of Broadcast Communications
360 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Appearance

Comments
Sc
Review №1

A Great place to visit, except it is currently under construction but, yet still open. Some exhibits you normally were able to see, you wont be able to see due to the construction. The Svengoolie exhibit has been currently taken down during the construction.

Bo
Review №2

What a great experience. Wow. The museum was overtaken by Saturday Night Live memorabilia. From desks and telegrams, to costumes and props we felt like we were there. The way it was setup was so you could experience as if you were a part of the cast.The exhibits were, in many cases hands-on. We got to sit on the Waynes World couch, saw recordings of cast members from the early days up to today, and did a lot of walking in general. I strongly recommend everyone who has any interest in SNL to go see this while you can.I am still very interested in seeing the rest of the museum when the exhibit is not there. What we did get to see was a collection of old radios and TV sets; we saw memorabilia from Chicago TV shows like Bozo the Clown; we even got to sit at a weather desk with green screen.Of course, as with any museum, they are not lacking in gift shops. Even though it is a relatively small museum they have two. The one at the end of the tour had an area where you could have your picture taken at the Weekend Update desk and have a host superimposed. For $20, it was fun and will help keep good memories alive.

Ha
Review №3

This beer was $14 but I got to keep the mug! The bartender was helpful and friendly.

Pe
Review №4

If you go you have to do the SNL experience if you dont you only get to see one floor with the history of broadcast majorly shows of early 90s or 80s there its a small theater that shows shows from the late 80s the SNL experience include day by day how they prepare the show its incredible

Sy
Review №5

Spent the afternoon viewing the Saturday Night Live exhibit. The staff was courteous and informative. The second floor had collectables from old shows and viewing areas with chairs to relax. Great way to get out of the heat this summer! Students receive discount on tickets with school/college ID.

Ni
Review №6

Very nice place I enjoyed it very interesting stuff there but I was a little dissatisfied when they told they don’t have a The set of the movie Wayne’s world and they got rid of it last year but still good time.

Ju
Review №7

Came here for the SNL exhibit and it did not disappoint! The exhibit took you through life on the set at SNL. It takes you through everyday of the week, from writing, planning, costume and set design, rehearsals and all the way up to the live show. It was really neat to see the insight of such an iconic show. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking or something fun to do.

Ca
Review №8

It was so great seeing all of the characters that are CHICAGO. From Blob to Garfield Goose and Cudley Dudley, I smiled my whole way through the museum. I just wish I had more time to visit.

Sc
Review №9

The SNL Experience was phenomenal and the other exhibitions were great, too! Cant wait for the next installation!

Ed
Review №10

The SNL Experience was great at showing the story of how it all got started and the displays of memorabilia and props used on the show through the years.

Sc
Review №11

What a great experience! SNL was great and I enjoyed looking at all the old broadcast equipment.

Ca
Review №12

Perfect of you grew up in Chicago. The exhibits that really pulled my heart strings were the Garfield Goose, Bozo the Clown, and Svengoolie exhibits. I especially loved the old radios on display- the craftmanship is outstanding on those old things. I did the scavenger hunt, which made it a bit easier to learn things.

Na
Review №13

Overall a pretty unique and cool place to spend an hour or two. The SNL exhibit is on the 2nd and 4th floors, and you are routed to go that way before you see the rest of the musuem ( which is on the 3rd floor). So when I was there, I bought my ticket and went upstairs. I did check my coat and was immediately put in the SNL exhibit. So if there is a choice to skip it, I missed it.But do see it. It was interesting even though I am not am SNL fan. I do appreciate the history of SNL and the musuem does a fine job of capturing that history.

Ch
Review №14

It was absolutely amazing I got to meet Bob Stroud who happens to be my favorite radio announcer. The history be behind all of this is remarkable!All the works loanedRock and roll Hall of Fame

Mi
Review №15

Very nice and informative. Went for the SNL experience.

Ji
Review №16

It has always been one of my favorite places in Chicago. The rock and roll exhibit that is currently there is very well done and absolutely fantastic. Even if you have been there before its well worth seeing

Ti
Review №17

Went to the SNL exhibit. It was amazing. You go at your own pace.

Ly
Review №18

I enjoyed it. I specifically went for the #SNLEXperience. I really wanted to see a better display of #Buckwheat I loved and remembered that character the most! It wasnt much of a display for Buckwheat, BUT I remembered the other characters also when I was there and it was just an enjoyable experience, plus I got to see the rest of the museum when I was done with the #Snlexperirnce. Glad I went

Mi
Review №19

I visited the museum for the Saturday Night Live Exhibit. The exhibit was excellent. There are original costumes from the show as well as informative videos describing what goes on to put the show on when it is in production.

Gr
Review №20

Loved the snl exhibit! it was great seeing all the iconic props and learning how the show is made

ma
Review №21

Had a fun time...well worth checking out.

Ma
Review №22

Obviously you need to be a fan of broadcast communications but even if you just like the history, its a great visit. The old Chicago Channel 7 sets brought back many memories.

Ma
Review №23

The Radio Hall of Fame was my favorite.

Ma
Review №24

Went to the SNL exhibit and it was a blast from the past. Great information as well as artifacts and replicas from the set. Very well done! Loved all the video clips and renewed my interest in watching old SNL clips in the future!

Ti
Review №25

SNL display is amazing. A must see before it leaves.

Gr
Review №26

Great place and I managed to catch the SNL experience before it left! Looking forward to the next installation.

La
Review №27

Very nice museum, with one really nice exibition on music and politics (and, of course, the radio hall of fame). Loved it!

St
Review №28

Great SNL exhibit, almost like being at 30 Rock.

da
Review №29

Very interesting museum. Pretty small though. Used to be bigger. No more 3rd floor.

Et
Review №30

A fun museum with eveolving that show the history of broadcast journalism and entertainment in the US. From the original Meet The Press desk to an original AP Wire machine, theres a lot of original artifacts that are fun to see in person.

Be
Review №31

Wonderful. Absolutely amazing. For anybody who has any interest in the workings of TV and broadcast through the years this is a must-see.Like a pilot visiting the Air and Space museum I was in awe from the moment I arrived. I learned so much and just got to enjoy the entire experience and can’t wait until I can see it again.

An
Review №32

Great SNL experience. 3rd floor has lots of broadcasting memrobelia

Jo
Review №33

A totally undiscovered gem of a museum in River North. The SNL exhibit is amazing. Really interactive and a ton of original items from the entire history of the show. Honestly one of the best exhibits Ive ever seen. So. Much. Fun.

T
Review №34

Great place to learn of almost anything pertaining to show biz, djs, classic tv shows, and artists!

Fr
Review №35

New SNL: The Experience is an amazing piece of exhibition and staging. A must for any fan of the show!

Th
Review №36

Very fun museum ! Never seen anything quite like it

Jo
Review №37

Very good place to go

BV
Review №38

One floor does a pretty adequate job of tracing the history of television and radio programming over the decades. But the rest of the museum has an absolutely wonderful, insightful, vast & in-depth look at all things Saturday Night Live. The exhibit traces the development of a typical show as it comes to life throughout the week leading up to the live broadcast. Not just the names and faces weve grown up with are featured, but also the writers, costume and makeup artists, set designers & builders, Directors, etc., etc. Highly recommended!!!

Ly
Review №39

The Museum of Broadcast Communications has been a place I have wanted to check out for a while now. One time they had an entire SNL exhibit but I didnt get to check it out. They had a temporary exhibit from the rock and roll hall of fame which had a wide variety of tv memorabilia. Some memorabilia included items from the Ed Sullivan show, Saturday Night Live, Lady Gagas Bad Romance outfit, Jackson 5 outfits, and Bozo the clowns outfits. Depending on how much you chose to read and watch, it can take you 30 minutes if you dont read a lot or 2 hours if you read and watch all the information provided. There is also a National Radio Hall of Fame. I didnt have the energy to go through all of that but it was about 2 rooms filled with various types of vintage radios and highlighted the different radio personalities that shaped radio. Definitely not a very popular museum but for $15 a person, its not a waste of money if you like to see some historic objects that you cant see every day. Also a great change of pace if you are in Chicago but dont want to go to the popular museums, be shopping or pay for a show.

Ne
Review №40

Good place to increase our knowledge base. The collection was nice. Perfect place to bring children .

Ad
Review №41

Saw the SNL exhibit here. It was cool and there were many interesting videos and informational signs to read. I had sort of hoped for something a little more interactive, though. It was nice to see some of the props used in the early days of the show, as well as to see the development stage of each new episode, which runs without much break from Sunday to Friday. I wont spoil it, but the end part is quite fun. The gift shop is a bit lacking, wouldve liked to see cooler T-shirts, but thats pretty minor. We didnt spend much time in the rest of the museum, but there seemed to be some other interesting exhibits. Overall, a fun thing to do if youre in Chicago.

Na
Review №42

We had a great time at the SNL exhibit on a cold Saturday afternoon. The exhibit not only showcases the actors, writers and props, but also walks you through what is involved day by day to get to the live broadcast. In the end, they say that although this show appears to be live chaos, every line and movement is carefully planned and rehearsed. We were wishing we had tickets to Second City - would have made a great combo. The museum is easy to find, clean, well located to combine with shopping, dining, drinking. Recommend.

Jo
Review №43

This is the museum that Paul Harvey set up to honor himself. Thus his entire family is in their hall of fame. Gives you an idea on what to expect. That said its ok.not worth the price of admission. I have to assume there are Groupons out there. At 2 for 1 its worth killing an hour.

Ma
Review №44

Unique museum. The Saturday Night Live exhibit was fantastic! So many memories. Walking us through the week of preparation was so interesting. Gather your friends and family and go!

Br
Review №45

Theyre currently doing a tribute to Saturday Night Live. They actually have the sets and some of the costumes along with scripts and a setup of what its like to go through the week before the show airs on Saturday night.

Ah
Review №46

Great place to visit you might learn something

Ji
Review №47

So much fun with great exhibits and awesome history

Ma
Review №48

They always seem to have interesting exhibits going on.

Be
Review №49

SNL exhibit was great, informative and fun. If you have ever been a fan of the show its worth the price of admission

Ma
Review №50

This place was great. The Saturday night live museum exhibit was so cool. The winter rates are a great deal. Went as a group of six and we all had a blast. Some never having seen snl before.

Ke
Review №51

Absolutely fantastic! For anybody who has an interest in the broadcasting field, this is the go to place to learn!

Me
Review №52

So this may be just me but I didn’t know there was four floors apparently? I only saw the one floor, the special exhibit floor. Also, I couldn’t find the museum because there was hardly any signage to show that there was a museum. So I’m a little disappointed. The one exhibit I did see was interesting, but I was so confused about where things were here. They do have student discounts, but even with that the price is $14.

Mi
Review №53

Went to see the Louder Than Words exhibit and found it interesting and educational. Was worth seeing

Ca
Review №54

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the Saturday Night Live exhibit. It includes an assortment of props and memoribilia peppered with show clips over the past 40 years. You experience what a 7 day week looks like preparing for the show. At the end we were shuffled to the 3rd floor where we viewed a timeline of radio and TV including childhood favorites Garfield Goose and Ray Raynor. We practically had the place to ourselves on a Tuesday morning.

Ka
Review №55

Awesome place brings back a lot of good memories of TV and radio from Bozo the gigglesnort hotel

Ma
Review №56

Learning about how to communicate with aliens hm getting ready lol nice place to visit

Ch
Review №57

Underwhelming for the price. Supposedly the museum is 4 floors but only 1 was open today: the Louder Than Words exhibition (about protest music). Not sure if there’s normally other stuff happening, but I asked a staff member just to be sure, and that’s all I got to see for my $18 admission. Even half that amount would have been overpriced. No idea how Google Maps gets the idea that most people spend 3 hours here; I watched most of the videos and read all of the signs and I finished in 45 minutes.Skippable, and I say that as a broadcast journalism major.3 stars because the content was interesting, but admission should be more like $8 and the museum should be renamed to emphasize that it’s about a single exhibition at a time, not a comprehensive museum of the history of broadcasting.

Pe
Review №58

The SNL exhibit was great. The exhibit is set up to take you through the week leading up to the live show. You get to see the writing process, then costumes and set design, production, and finally the Saturday dress rehearsal and show. Very well done, funny and informative.

Jo
Review №59

Really cool! There was an SNL history exhibit when I went. Very cool and interesting. They have rotating exhibits so definitely worth the visit multiple times. The layout is a little ambiguous, I wasnt sure where the end was, but it had many rooms with engaging content, so that wasnt a problem. Definitely recommended!

br
Review №60

Super hidden gem, the SNL show was fantastic, you will love it if you have ever watch a show. very interesting exhibit, very well done. quite extensive and worth every penny for admission. great time, great sets, great audio, great clips Dont miss it, leaving in December 2018

Je
Review №61

You best hurry and see the SNL exhibit before it closes at end of March. If you like SNL, its a must see. The displays were thoughtful, with a good mix of casts, and they definitely do a nice job replicating the experience. source: Id give my right arm to see a live taping of this show in NY.

St
Review №62

Pretty cool place with interesting history of local and national broadcasting - kind of a Chicago twist applied throughout. We really enjoyed the Saturday Night Live exhibit!

Fr
Review №63

Used to be great. Only one floor left. Not much to see.

Co
Review №64

The SNL exhibit is a must. The rest of the museum was nice, just not sure what they would have if the SNL Experience wasnt there. Check it out before it leaves!

Jo
Review №65

A very interesting exhibit currently going on that merges music and politics. The admission is a bit pricey ($18) for general admission, but overall a good experience.

Ap
Review №66

A fun place to spend a few hours. I was thrilled when my mom first suggest we check it out but it far exceeded my expectations! They walked you through the life of an SNL writer with audio, visual, and tactile example. The costumes were so much fun and being able to see the sets of well known skits was awesome!

Wi
Review №67

If you like pop culture tv and movies as well as radio this is the place to be.

Ca
Review №68

Loved the Saturday Night Live exhibit. A great last minute, lower cost alternative to the more crowded museums.

Fl
Review №69

Fantastic museum! Has the complete history of Saturday Night Live, including original sets and memorabilia from the show. The rest is broadcasting history over the life of radio and television. A great indoor parking garage just across the street and down a block.

Do
Review №70

Simply put, a absolute must see!!! The nostalgia will flow heavy through your mind visiting here!!!

Bo
Review №71

I had a great time at the museum of broadcast Communications, it was very informative.

Mo
Review №72

I was here for the SNL exhibit and was surprised to see another level with Bozo show and Svenguli and other local Chicago TV memorabilia! Had a great time

Ha
Review №73

Always love my time and experience with the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Had the honor and privilege to intern and volunteer here from June 2016-January 2017. Great times. Miss everyone. Keep up the great work Museum of Broadcast Communications.

Ma
Review №74

If you are a big SNL fan, you definitely need to check this out while its still around. Super fun and informative!

Yo
Review №75

This venue takes you through a typical week of SNL, day by day, as if you were hosting. Its so very interesting. It takes about an hour and a half. Then another hour for the museum of TV history. It was really fabulous. A must for any SNL fan.

Ry
Review №76

The SNL experience exceeded my expectations. Great museum!

Da
Review №77

Great snl tour. Original sets and costumes. A great history flashback.

Ni
Review №78

Fun and interactive muesum. I didnt think I would enjoy it as much as I did. Fun and cool place to visit.

Br
Review №79

A hidden gem in the heart of Chicago. Yes, its home to the SNL exhibit. But theres so much more to check out. If you are interested in broadcasting, I highly recommend going here for a day!

Ki
Review №80

Great place to see all the old shows if you are nostalgic.

Cl
Review №81

Neat look at Chicagos impact on TV and radio. A very interesting and interactive SNL exihibit. Unfortunately there was a few technical difficulties in it. Also nothing about the NBC Chicago shows. Gift shop was in need of some better stuff.

Li
Review №82

Saw the SNL exhibit -- excellent -- only there until the end of the month -- MUST SEE for fans of the show

Ti
Review №83

Very Chicago nostalgic. If its combined with something special like the SNL exhibit, its worth it. Not for kids or teens as the exhibits are 80s and earlier for the most part

Jo
Review №84

Poorly/Vaguely communicated closure of entire museum following end of special exhibit. Couldnt get in!

Ch
Review №85

Such a great place. The staff were super friendly and went above and beyond to be accommodating. The SNL exhibit was amazing. I spent a good 3 hours there checking everything out. Highly recommend

Ja
Review №86

So happy that i got to see SNL its dont miss.

As
Review №87

Such a fun experience for an SNL fan! Well put-together.

Di
Review №88

The exhibit Louder Than Words is excellent!

Ph
Review №89

Great time... Was there for the SNL exhibit and will be going back!

Ju
Review №90

The snl tour was great. The 3rd floor has a ton of room for improvement.

Am
Review №91

I love this museum. As someone who studied communications in college and loves pop culture, this museum is awesome! It is well-curated, colorful and tells the story of radio and TV history with interactive exhibits and great artifacts. The I Love Lucy section is great, and I love the TV timeline that spans and entire floor. You can see a news studio in action and learn while having fun!

P
Review №92

Look at the history of radio and television from the beginning of each Era to today and see all the pioneers of each medium that have made their mark to make broadcast a successful medium.

Ch
Review №93

Decent museum of broadcast and associated media dedicated by/to Bruce Dumont, a Chicago broadcaster.Loved the SNL experience and other earlier Chicago productions + radio stuff.

Ra
Review №94

Went to an event there and got to see the SNL exhibit. That was pretty cool. They had a ton of old memorabilia and interesting videos. Plus Waynes World couch!

DA
Review №95

Very interesting but very short the SNL set SO cool but still (dont believe the hype).

Jo
Review №96

Forget the seriousness of today’s news and unpleasantries! Go back and relive 40+years of SNL memories of funnier than heck characters and skits that are set in concrete as the best in creative writing. There was no need for profanity then. Just poke fun and have a good laugh at ourselves!Give yourself as much time to enjoy it all. Then treat yourself to the Weekend Update News Desk!If you grew up in Chicago, your heart will be touched by memorable childhood TV friends.

Be
Review №97

A true hidden gem! Check it out, their every day exhibit is neat, but the traveling exhibits are awesome! Loved the SNL exhibit!!

So
Review №98

The SNL experience was so amazing and the staff was great

Am
Review №99

Wish I would have had more time. It was great to learn the behind the scenes of SNL.

Ed
Review №100

I thoroughly enjoyed the SNL Expoerience. Brought back such great memories. The staff were great and everything was very well planned for our enjoyment. Parking was just steps away.Thank you

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.5 Rating
  • Address:360 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
  • Site:http://museum.tv/
  • Phone:+1 312-245-8200
Categories
  • Museum
  • Tourist attraction
Highlights
  • Live performances:Yes
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
  • Wheelchair-accessible lift:Yes
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet:Yes
Amenities
  • Good for kids:Yes
  • Toilets:Yes
  • Restaurant:No
Crowd
  • Family friendly:Yes
Similar organizations