After a century at a nearby location, where it was the first of what eventually became eleven Chicago museum-in-the-parks, the academy built and opened its present museum named for benefactor Peggy Notebaert in 1999 at the intersection of Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park.

[1] The institution focuses on the natural history of the Chicago region, and offers educational programs for children and adults.

The Chicago Academy of Sciences had previously been located at Lincoln Park's century-old Matthew Laflin Memorial Building.

The original series of long-term exhibitions and botanic recreations around the Notebaret building – including Butterfly Haven, City Science house, Water Lab and Wilderness Walk habitat exhibits – were developed by a team of academy staff, led by Paul G. Heltne, Kevin Coffee, and Douglas Taron, and designed by Lee H. Skolnick Design + Architecture Partnership with Carol Naughton Associates[6][7] The academy museum's exhibits today include displays about the ecological history of the Illinois region, a live butterfly house, and a green home demonstration.

One of the academy's ongoing scientific efforts is the study, care, and breeding of native butterflies for species population support in the Chicago area.