Living History reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians, including Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln and Harriet Tubman, interact with visitorss. See a Civil War cannon fire and watch a surgeon at work. The Battlefield Balladeers perform songs from the Civil War era and educational activities are available for all ages. Plus, kids can enjoy a Civil War scavenger hunt.

Take a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the world of magic and its historic roots in Chicago. Features a multimedia object theater experience, artifact display and live performances. Discover the tricks of the trade and witness Chicago's magical past reappear before your very eyes.

Jennifer Holik, professional genealogist and author of numerous genealogy books, helps young people investigate their family history using simple research techniques, then record what they discover with basic genealogy charts. Parents, guardians and grandparents are encouraged to attend.

Informative bike ride through Busse Woods Forest Preserve to learn about the cultural and natural history of the area. Pre-registration required.

A special exhibit on the history of Girl Scouting, with special focus on Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Hundreds of objects and documents from the exclusive private collection, together with a rare collection of first editions of his most famous works, tell the story of how Charles Dickens and his characters became enduring cultural icons. Interactive and multi-media displays and personal effects take visitors through a chronological tour of the life, literature and legacy of Dickens. View his personal traveling inkwell, take a ride in an early century carriage, and learn about the memorable characters, stories and themes of his famous tales through games, time period puzzles and Dickens' own personal Facebook page.

Visitors become space adventurers and set off on a journey to discover the Universe in a way never done before. Travel a billion light-years and back, fly through space, orbit the Moon, zoom into a canyon on Mars, and soar through the cosmic web where a million galaxies shower down. The experience was created utilizing real telescopic data and the best scientific imagery.

Multimedia displays and digital interactives show audiences how galaxies, stars, planets were created as the Universe grew. A projection showcases the enormity of regions farther than our Solar System, taking spectators billions of light-years from Earth to the edge of the cosmos, while touch screen technology allows them to investigate the diverse and beautiful objects of deep space.

Exhibit examines the ancestry and evolution of numerous species, ranging from huge to tiny, from speedy to sloth-like, and displays animals with oversized claws, fangs, snouts, and horns. Highlights include taxidermy specimens, an entire skeleton of a giant hoofed plant-eater, a life-size model of the largest land mammal that ever lived, one of the oldest fossilized bats ever found, and an impressive diorama featuring the swamps and forests of an island in the Arctic. Runs May 26, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013.

Includes a private viewing of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 4-D Experience, followed by a drawing for special prizes, a visit with costumed characters, Shedd's Polar Play Zone and reserved seats to the aquatic show.