Fhe Nautilus 
VOL. VIII. 
FEBRUARY, 1895. 
No. 10 
A GLANCE AT THE CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
BY FRANK C. BAKER, SECRETARY. 
In 1857, a society for the promotion of science, was formed in 
Chicago, taking the name of “ The Chicago Academy of Natural 
Sciences.” About $1,500 was subscribed, a room taken in the 
Saloon Building, corner of Clark and Lake Streets, a few cases were 
made, and a museum was begun. In 1859, the society was incorpor¬ 
ated by the name of “ The Chicago Academy of Sciences.” 
In the winter of 1863-4, several prominent citizens of Chicago 
resolved to found a Scientific Museum in the Metropolis of the 
Northwest. A large sum of money was accordingly subscribed, an 
Act of Incorporation, (1865) as now published, was obtained and 
the Academy was placed upon a solid foundation. Mr. Robert 
Kennicott was appointed first Director of the Museum. Collections 
rapidly rolled in and rooms were taken at the Metropolitan Build¬ 
ing, corner of Randolph and La Salle Streets. In 1865 Mr. Kenni¬ 
cott, with a party of young naturalists went to Alaska to survey a 
route for a telegraph line, then proposed to connect North Amer¬ 
ica with Russia. From this expedition Mr. Kennicott never re¬ 
turned. He died suddenly of heart failure on the banks of the 
Yukon River. After the death of Mr. Kennicott, Dr. William 
Stimpson was appointed Director of the Museum. 
June 7, 1866, the building in which the Museum was placed was 
partially destroyed by fire. The collections were much damaged, 
