As you plan your class trip to Chicago, you should take some time to explore the Federal Reserve Visitor Center as part of the experience. The location contains a money museum and offers educational presentations for the team to enjoy. The Chicago Federal Reserve Center is one of 12 regional reserve banks in the United States.
The Money Museum contains a variety of fascinating exhibits which are appropriate for pupils in middle school and above. The student group will find exhibits such as Fed Shreds, Historical Currency, Counterfeits, the Million Dollar Cube, the Million Dollar Suitcase, and Inflation. The Historical Currency exhibit is where participants will have the opportunity to view a variety of historic bills that have been in circulation. At one point, there were 10,000 dollar bills in circulation. However, the 100 dollar bill is the highest currency in circulation today. The million Dollar Suitcase is an exhibit where pupils can have a photo taken and touch the handle of a suitcase that contains one million dollars. The Federal Reserve finds 20 to 30 counterfeit bills every day. The counterfeit exhibit is where the class will learn about the security features incorporated in U.S. currency. You will also learn how you can spot a counterfeit bill.
The Federal Reserve offers daily guided visits that are 30 minutes in length. During the experience, participants will hear a presentation about the functions and responsibilities of the Federal Reserve System and the Chicago Fed, learn detailed information about the Historical Currency collection in the Money Museum, watch a short video dealing with the operations of the Chicago Fed, and have a question and answer session after the video. The location also offers educational programs and resources for educators.
