When visiting our favorite local museums, families have so much to explore in science, history, arts and culture. There are also some great exhibitions that make the trip worthwhile.
With plenty of local museums for kids of all ages, there is something for everyone. You might be lucky enough to see one of these exhibits during a free museum day to help save some money! Check out these new exhibits in Chicago and the suburbs.
Note: We’re updating our website as quickly as we can, but changes may occur due to COVID-19. Please double check before heading out for the most updated information on safety precautions, vaccine requirements and any last-minute cancellations.
Harry Potter: Magic at Play
Nov. 11, 2022-May 14, 2023 (Mondays, Thursdays-Sundays)
- Address: Water Tower Place, 835 Michigan Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $42.50/adult, $34/child ages 3-9, free/under 2
Enjoy the first-of-its-kind interactive experience, which will allow fans of all ages to engage with the Wizarding World like never before. It’s 30,000 square feet of hands-on magical interactivity including games, exploration, sensory activations and more that celebrate Harry’s own journey in discovering the wizarding world.
The Negro Motorist Green Book
Jan. 29-April 23, 2023
- Address: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie
- Cost: $18/adults, $6/ages 5-11, free/under 5
This exhibit explains the history of “The Green Book” and included different artifacts from that time period – such as images, business signs, postcards and other firsthand accounts.
Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till
Feb. 9-19, 2023
- Address: The DuSable Black History Museum & Education Center, 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago
- Cost: $55/general admission, $50/group tickets, $30/members and school groups
The production features an immersive reenactment of the actual courtroom proceedings that happened in Sumner, Mississippi after Emmett Till was murdered.
Salvador Dalí: The Image Disappears
Feb. 18-June 12, 2023
- Address: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free w/museum admission
This exhibit focuses on the pivotal decade of the 1930s, when Salvador Dalí emerged as the inventor of his own personal brand of Surrealism. It features 25 paintings, drawings, and surrealist objects.
Gather Together: The Street Photography of Diane Alexander White
Through April 30, 2023 (Thursdays-Sundays)
- Address: National Hellenic Museum, 333 S. Halsted St., Chicago
- Cost: $10/adult, $8/senior and student, $7/child, free/under 3 and member
In this exhibition, the Chicago-based Greek American photographer, Diane Alexander White presents 80 historic works showcasing Chicago’s Greek American celebrations, alongside other ethnic and cultural festivals and parades.
In Pursuit of Happiness: Immigrants in Our Communities
Through May 14, 2023
- Address: Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst
- Cost: Included in museum admission
Learn about the diverse stories and experiences of area immigrants and their descendants as told through first-person accounts, photographs, treasured objects and more.
Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories
Through May 20, 2023
- Address: Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
- Cost: Included in basic admission
Field Museum’s Native North American Hall will be transformed into a new experience for visitors. Learn stories told by Native people of self-determination, resilience, continuity and the future.
Millions of Moments: The Chicago Sun-Times Photo Collection
Through Dec. 31, 2023
- Address: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago
- Cost: Free w/ admission
Featuring 150 images from the Chicago History Museum’s Chicago Sun-Times collection, Millions of Moments is a first look at highlights from five million negatives spanning the 1940s to the early 2000s—one of the largest newspaper photograph collections ever acquired by an American museum.
This post is updated regularly.
