The newest exhibit at Chicago Children’s Museum is all about water. WaterCity! offers children endless opportunities to explore and play with water. Kids can design their own water experiments, explore the physical properties of water while learning about conservation, enjoy sensory experiences or just splash and play.
Replaceing the Water Ways exhibit, WaterCity! is housed in the Navy Pier Headhouse, a historic part of the landmark that was built in 1916. The exhibit includes some uniquely Chicago aspects, such as a water feature that mimics the three branches of the Chicago River, a lock/dam system and Lake Michigan.
Quick details about WaterCity!
Opens February 23, 2023
- Address: 700 E Grand Ave, Chicago
- Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cost: $19 each for adults and children.
- Getting there: The 2, 29, 65, 66 and 124 CTA buses have drop-off points near the museum.
- Parking: Validation is available for the Navy Pier parking lots. Guests must validate when they check-in prior to their visit.
We’ve recommended some other fun water activities that you and your curious kid can explore after visiting WaterCity!, but there’s much more to discover at the Chicago Children’s Museum, too. Kids can climb Cloud Buster, 37-feet of steel, wood, turf and other scalable materials, or play make believe at Castle. There’s also dinosaur expeditions, educational safety exhibits for kids, and opportunities to build and create at the Tinkering Lab.
Tips for families when visiting Chicago Children’s Museum
- Timed reservations are available when purchasing tickets online.
- Pack a lunch or snacks to enjoy at the designated Snack Spots. Water fountains are available, and bottled water is available for purchase.
- There are nursing chairs, a nursing room, changing tables, family bathrooms and other child-friendly amenities throughout the museum.
- Planning your visit on a budget? Navy Pier hosts Free Family Fun days on the last Thursday of the month from Jan.-May. This includes free admission to the children’s museum, as well as many other Navy Pier attractions.
- The museum may restrict re-entry when there is high visitor traffic, so plan any breaks you may need accordingly.
- Final admission is no later than 1-hour before the museum closes. Make sure you allow ample time to account for travel and enough time to experience the exhibit.
- Looking for spring break plans? The museum’s hours are extended until 5 p.m. from March 27 to April 9.
Things to do near Chicago Children’s Museum
- Continue your day of water exploration and take to the lake with Shoreline Water Taxis. This sightseeing company offers tours of Chicago’s famous landmarks while making it easy and exciting to get around town.
- Chicago Children’s Museum is located at Navy Pier, a tourist hotspot for shopping, dining and, of course, the iconic Centennial Wheel.
- Make a new fuzzy friend at Build-A-Bear Workshop, located just steps away from the museum.
- Enjoy a scenic walk along the Chicago Lakefront Trail, offering gorgeous views of Lake Michigan, its beaches and the city skyline, without the fuss and the crowds of Navy Pier.
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