🇺🇸 Chicago’s Hidden Gem: Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art 💎✨

After grabbing some crayfish rice nearby, I stumbled upon this little-known jade art museum—and had to come back with my parents on a weekend. Totally worth the trip! 🧡 🏛️ The museum features stunning jade carvings, most notably the breathtaking Jade Pagoda 🏯. Carved from a single 9-ton raw stone and set upon an altar, it took 150 artisans nearly a decade to complete! The exhibit allows a 360° view—every detail is mesmerizing. 🌿 Outside, you’ll find petrified wood displays and a massive wall-sized plant fossil at the entrance—so impressive! 🎨 The collection is incredibly diverse: vases, religious figures, abstract pieces like a “breakfast platter,” and even rare ammolite (iridescent fossilized shell only found in Alberta, Canada) that glows like a rainbow 🌈. 🪨 The entire museum is on one floor and fully accessible. I loved the detailed descriptions for each piece—they even explain symbolic details, like the meaning behind the Bodhisattva’s pure vase. There are also touchable fossils—perfect for kids to learn about geology and culture! 👧🧑‍🔬 ✅ In short: A beautifully curated, educational, and affordable museum perfect for a day of art and learning. 📍Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art: 1220 Kensington Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523 #MuseumAdventure #JadeArt #ChicagoMuseums #TravelChicago #FamilyFriendly #ExhibitionLovers #JewelryExhibit #GeologyRocks #ChicagoLife