Founded in 1906, the museum was originally housed in the Palace of Fine Arts from the Exposition, the structure now occupied by the Museum of Science and Industry. The current location is a building that opened in 1921. Originally named the Columbian Museum of Chicago, the Field Museum was renamed after Marshall Field, a major donor who provided a significant amount of the funding needed to found the museum.
Some prized exhibits at The Field Museum include Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil skeleton currently known, and a large and diverse taxidermy collection, featuring many large animals, including two prized African elephants and the infamous Lions of Tsavo.