9. Inside the Griffin Museum: Chicago’s Legacy of Science & Innovation with Dr. Voula Saridakis

This week on DIBS presented by @chicago_history, we sit down with Dr. Voula Saridakis, head curator at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.In this episode, we cover:The museum’s origins at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and how it evolved into today’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.What’s hidden behind the walls: 35,000+ artifacts, with only a fraction on public display.Stories behind iconic exhibits like the U-505 submarine, Apollo 8 command module, the coal mine, the Boeing 727, and the five-story tornado in Science Storms.How exhibits like The Great Train Story sneak in Easter eggs (yes, those superhero figurines are intentional).Annual traditions, including Christmas Around the World & Holidays of Light, and the museum’s deep partnerships with Chicago’s neighborhoods.Preparing for new neighbors like the Obama Presidential Center and collaborating with institutions like the University of Chicago.The museum’s future: digitizing its collections, expanding access through VR/AR, and inspiring the next generation of scientists and dreamers.Episode Resources:Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryU-505 Submarine Exhibit TicketsListen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman