Think you could catch a few winks on this thing? It happens to live in MSI. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Kate McGroarty is just wrapping up an enviable journey. Over the past month, she’s gotten to sleep on a World War II submarine and in a cutting-edge home powered completely by solar and wind energy. She’s toured the Apollo 8 command module with astronaut Jim Lovell as her guide. She’s even done a handstand in a tornado. And she’s done it all without leaving her current hometown of Chicago.

In fact, McGroarty’s done all this within the boundaries of the 14-acre space that houses Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry (MSI). And she’s done it in front of the whole world.

That’s right: For the past 29 days, McGroarty has been the museum’s “living exhibit,” eating, sleeping and working there 24/7, checking out all this institution — called the largest science center in the Western hemisphere — has to offer and sharing what she finds with the public.  Winner of the “Month at the Museum” contest, McGroarty moved into MSI on Oct. 20, where she’s had her own private sleeping quarters (to use when she’s not bunking up in one of the exhibits) and an office. She’s been blogging and filing social media updates about her experiences every day, as well as posting videos on YouTube. (McGroarty’s regular segment called “Snuggie Science,” in which she offers up simple science lessons while wearing — you guessed it — a Snuggie, is particularly entertaining.) You can check out some of her posts here.

According to The Associated Press, “Month at the Museum” has been MSI’s attempt to freshen up their image and attract a younger audience, and as McGroarty prepares to move back out into the real world Thursday, I wonder how successful it’s been and if any other similar outfits will follow suit. McGroarty told NPR that nights at the museum often felt like being in a cathedral, and though that sounds a little eerie, I can think of several museums I wouldn’t mind camping out in for a little while (The Smithsonian, perhaps?) — places I’d love to fully explore, if only I had the time. And a month might not be enough.

What about you? Would you live in a museum? Which one?

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