Most fun for the adults: Learning that Lewis Carroll was more than jus than an author.

Most fun for the kids: Seeing children from a long time ago dressed up in scenes of famous stories.

Best ages for this attraction: 10+

Price per tickets: Included in the admission price of the museum, $10.

Yes, you get to see pictures of the original Alice. Alice Liddell is the subject of about three portraits in this exhibit. Before he became famous as the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass under his pseudonym Lewis Carroll, Rev. Charles Dodgson was a teacher at Christ Church in Oxford, England. Supposedly to supplement his income, he began practicing photography and became on of the most accomplished photographers of his day.

Dreaming in Pictures: The Photography of Lewis Carroll on display at the Art Institute of Chicago from October 11, 2003 through January 11, 2004 consists of 76 vintage photographs. These have been gathered from private, public, and corporate collections both here and abroad. Because so many of Carroll's key images were placed in albums, the exhibition also includes a unique, in-gallery computer system that allows viewers to use a touch screen to virtually turn the pages of important albums.

During the 24 years Carroll made photographs, his artistic career goals changed. Rhe publication of the first Alice book in 1865 resulted in increased financial security and freedom from academic responsibilities. Consequently, he was able to stop photographing as a business and begin enhancing his creativity. Carroll was able to devote more and more time creating scenes featuring children.

He really did a few neat things. The first wall of the exhibit displayed portraits of a variety of children. He was hired by their families to take these pictures. Even these portraits were a bit unique. He had them sitting on the couch or in a comfortable position in an oversized chair. They were never looking at him either. He captured them in a very natural way. He added objects for the children to hold such as dolls for the girls and guns or swords for the boys. One photo shows a folder holding his son on his knee and it appears he is handing his son a dueling pistol.

Later in the exhibit you find a wall full of photographed scenes. Children would dress up and be placed in scenes from popular songs or stories. One girl was dressed barefoot and in a torn dress and she posed as Cinderella. Another scene is of two sisters depicting the story of St. George and the dragon. Some songs and books of the day were also depicted.

No photographs of this special exhibit are permitted. Unfortunately, there are not post cards or items from this exhibit for sale in the gift shop either.