Entry No. 15 — the Chicago file — filed under: oddities

The Insect Asylum

Founder Nina Salem turned a lifetime of collecting into this Avondale specimen museum, which opened a brick-and-mortar space in 2022 after starting as a traveling exhibit. The collection runs to thousands of pinned insects and taxidermy mounts, including a giraffe named Long John, alongside more than 40 live sanctuary animals and insects. Weekend workshops cover butterfly pinning, owl pellet dissection, wet-specimen work, and bone jewelry, each with a take-home piece.

The move: Take a wet-specimen or bone-jewelry workshop together so you each leave with a strange little keepsake.

📍 Before you go Closed Monday and Tuesday; workshops require advance booking and Friday hours are sensory-friendly.

• 📍 Avondale
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 2870 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23