Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

Add some color to an afternoon in Chicago with a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the largest contemporary art museums in the country. Designed by architect Josef Paul Kleihues, the five-story building has three floors of dedicated gallery space extending from a central glass atrium. Highlighting pieces from 1945 to the present, the permanent collection focuses on surrealism, minimalism, conceptual photography, and work by Chicago-based artists. Pieces include those by Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Alexander Calder. Exhibits change monthly, and free docent-led tours provide insight into select works.