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Free days for Chicago museums
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Chicago's museums are world-class, but all those bones, weather simulators and rides in Chicago's first El train car don't come cheap. Throw in in parking, special exhibits, and the gift shop, and it adds up fast. But in the philanthropic spirit of our fine city, most museums offer free admission on certain days. Here's a complete calendar for the coming month. You're on your own in the gift shop.
Bank of America Free Days
Have a Bank of America card? Then on the first full weekend of each month present your card and get a free admission to The Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Chicago History Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Shedd Aquarium. One per cardholder, so it won't be free for the entire family (unless each of your children have a B of A credit card), but a free adult admission is nothing to sneeze at.
Check out Bank of America website.
Adler Planetarium
June: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8
September: 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26
October: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 &
31
November: 6, 7, 13 & 14
See all exhibits and special events at the Adler Planetarium
Art Institute of Chicago
Jan. 2-Feb. 10, 2012--Free to Illinois residents all day
every weekday
March 7-Dec. 12, 2012--Free to Illinois residents first and second Wednesdays of every month
See all exhibits and special events at the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago Children's Museum
Always free: 5-8 p.m. every Thursday and the first Sunday of every month for kids 15 and under. Always free to children under 1.
See all exhibits and special events at the Chicago Children's Museum
Field Museum
June: 1, 4 & 5
See all exhibits and special events at the Field Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art
Always free: Tuesdays 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; children 12 and under are free every day.
See all exhibits and special events at the Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Science and Industry
May: 23
June: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11
September: 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
October: 1, 2, 3
November: 5
December: 3
See all exhibits and special events at the Museum of Science and Industry
John G. Shedd Aquarium
June: 17-22
Bank of America Weekend:
On the first full weekend of the month, present your Bank of America/Merrill Lynch ATM, credit or debit card, along with photo ID, and receive one free mini-pass admission, valid for the cardholder only. This offer is not valid during special events or for admission to the 4-D theater. Upgrade your ticket to include the Abbott Oceanrium for an additional $6.95.
See all exhibits and special events at the John G. Shedd Aquarium
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Thursdays are free for Illinois residents. Children under 3 are free every day.
See all exhibits and special events at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
So helpful!!!By Courtney on Thursday, February 17, 2011 This is the best site for free museum days that I have ever seen. It really helped me take advantage of them and saved me so much money. |
Thanks!!By Robin on Monday, January 10, 2011 This is nice, concise info all in one spot! Thank you! |
Thank you!By Kelly on Tuesday, November 09, 2010 We're visiting the Chicago area over thanksgiving. Thanks for so many things on your site! |
ThanksBy Stephanie on Monday, October 18, 2010 This is great! We are having my in-laws fly in in a couple of weeks and I was planning on going to each museums websites to find out this information. I'm glad I came across this and found it all in one place! |
My boyfriend has no excuse
By Suzanne Wilson on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thanks for gathering all the free dates in one easy list. Now I can tell my boyfriend to take me to some museums without breaking his hard-earned money.