Field Museum
Field Museum
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
January: 7-9, 20-22
February: 4-6, 11-13, 17-20
March: 9-12
April: 20-23
May: 10-16
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
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
January: 20
February: 17
March: 4
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
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
Free on Tuesdays. Kids 5 and under are always free.
The Field Museum
January: 8, 15, 20, 22, 29
February: 1-29
Lincoln Park Zoo
Free admission daily.
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
Free on Sundays. Closed temporarily—reopens on May 9.
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Free on Tuesdays for Illinois residents; kids 18 and under are always free
Free the second Saturday of the month (October-May) for families with kids 12 and under.
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
January: 6-9, 13-16, 20-23, 27-30
February: 3-6, 10-13, 18-20, 24-27
National Museum of Mexican Art
Free admission daily.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Free Thursdays for Illinois residents. Kids under 3 are always free.
Shedd Aquarium
January: 16-20
February: 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28
June: 15, 16, 22, 23
Smart Museum of Art
Always free. Temporarily closed—reopens on Feb. 7.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Photo Credit: Joshua Longbrake, © MCA Chicago.
Suburbs
Elmhurst History Museum
Always free.
Midway Village Museum
January: 8, 15, 22, 29
February: 5, 12, 19, 26
March: 4, 11, 18, 25
April: 1, 8, 15, 22
May: 6, 13, 20, 27
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
Free the first Thursday of every month.
Wilmette Historical Museum
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.
