Field Museum
Field Museum
NOTE: Due to COVID-19 concerns, the following museums are closed due to the Illinois' stay-at-home order.
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 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 for Illinois residents on certain days. Here's a complete calendar for the next few months. You're on your own in the gift shop.
*Free days can change at the last minute, so ALWAYS call first to confirm before heading out to the museums.
City
Adler Planetarium
Note: Adler Planetarium is closed until further notice.
June: 2, 9, 16
August: 22-23, 31
September: 1-4
October: 12-15
November: 11, 17-19
December: 4-6
The Art Institute of Chicago
Note: The Art Institute is closed until further notice.
Free for Illinois residents on Wednesdays 5-8 p.m. Kids 14 and under and Chicago teens under 18 are always free.
Chicago History Museum
Note: The Chicago History Museum is closed through May 31.
July: 4
Free 2-9 p.m. on Tuesdays.* Illinois resident children under 18 are always free. Non-Illinois residents 12 and under are always free.
*Excludes Dec. 17, 24 & 31.
Chicago Children's Museum
Note: Chicago Children's Museum is closed until further notice.
Free the first Sunday of every month for kids 15 and under. Always free to kids under 1.
Shedd Aquarium
DuSable Museum of African American History
Note: The DuSable Museum is closed until further notice.
Free on Tuesdays. Kids 5 and under are always free.
The Field Museum
Note: The Field Museum is closed until further notice.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Note: Lincoln Park Zoo is closed until further notice.
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
Note: McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum is closed until further notice.
Free on Sundays.
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Note: MCA Chicago is closed until further notice.
Free on Tuesdays for Illinois residents; kids 18 and under are always free. Also free the second Saturday of the month (October-May) for families with kids 12 and under.
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Note: MSI is closed until further notice.
National Museum of Mexican Art
Note: The National Museum of Mexican Art is closed until further notice.
Free admission daily.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Note: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is closed until further notice.
Free Thursdays for Illinois residents. Kids under 3 are always free.
Shedd Aquarium
Note: Shedd Aquarium is closed until further notice.
June: 15, 16, 22, 23
Smart Museum of Art
Note: Smart Museum of Art is closed until further notice.
Always free.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Photo Credit: Joshua Longbrake, © MCA Chicago.
Suburbs
Elmhurst History Museum
Note: Elmhurst History Museum is closed through May 31.
Always free.
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
Note: Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center is closed until further notice.
Free on the 20th of every month through 2020.
Midway Village Museum
Note: Midway Village Museum is closed until further notice.
June: 3, 10, 17, 24
July: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
August: 5, 12, 19, 26
September: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
October: 7, 14, 21, 28
November: 4, 11, 18, 25
December: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Midwest Museum of Natural History
Note: Midwest Museum of Natural History is closed until further notice.
Free the first Thursday of every month.
Wilmette Historical Museum
Note: Wilmette Historical Museum is closed until further notice.
Always free.
Other
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 free admission to various Chicago area museums (see website for details). One per cardholder, so it won't be free for the entire family (unless each of your children has a credit card), but a free adult admission is nothing to sneeze at.
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This post is updated regularly.
