I lived in Chicago for a few years and I loved the windy city and its people and culture. Chicago has great restaurants, places to see and great museums for every age possible. Here are details about free Museum Days in Chicago Museums. Learning and going museums does not have to be expensive. Many people find visiting museum more motivational, when they are free!
Please note: Free day policies may change from time to time, so please check with the museum for the latest information.
Free Days at Chicago Museums
Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
312-922-7827
Monday and Tuesday beginning September 23 through the end of February.American Bar Association Museum of Law
American Bar Association
750 N. Lake Shore Drive
312-988-5000
Free.Art Institute of Chicago
Michigan and Adams
312-443-3600
Tuesdays free.Arts Club of Chicago
201 East Ontario
312-787-3997
Free.Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
6500 S. Pulaski
312-582-6500
Free MondayMary and Leigh Block Museum of Art
Northwestern University
1967 South Campus Drive, Evanston
847-491-4000
Free.Chicago Architecture Foundation
224 South Michigan Avenue
312-922-3432
Free.Chicago Children’s Museum
Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue
312-527-1000
Thursdays 5-8pm free.Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington
312-346-3278
Free.Chicago Historical Society
Clark at North Avenue
312-642-4600
Mondays free.DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place
773-947-0600
Thursdays free.Field Museum of Natural History
Roosevelt at Lake Shore Drive
312-922-9410
Wednesdays free.Jane Addams’ Hull-House Museum
800 S. Halsted
312-413-5353
Free.International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 North Lake Shore Drive
312-642-6502
Tuesdays free.Intuit: The Center for Outsider and Intuitive Art
756 North Milwaukee Avenue
312-243-9088
Free.Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
1852 West 19th Street
312-738-1503
Free.Museum of Broadcast Communications
Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington
312-629-6000
Free.Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue
312-280-2660
Admission is free on Tuesdays.Museum of Contemporary Photography
Columbia College Chicago
600 South Michigan Avenue
312-663-5554
Free.Museum of Science and Industry
57th and Lake Shore Drive
773-684-1414
Thursdays free.National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum
1801 South Indiana Avenue
773-326-0270
Free.Newberry Library
60 West Walton
312-943-9090
Free.Oriental Institute Museum
1155 East 58th Street
312-702-9521
Free.Peace Museum
314 West Institute Place
312-440-1860
Wednesdays Free.Polish Museum of America
984 North Milwaukee Avenue
312-384-3352
FreeRenaissance Society at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Cobb Hall, 5811 South Ellis Avenue, 4th floor
773-702-8670
Free.Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive
312-939-2439
From the Shedd’s site:
Take advantage of Shedd’s DISCOUNT DAYS. Visit June 8-13 and Mondays and Tuesdays October through February, and Chicago residents will pay just $9 for adults ($13 for non-residents), $6 for Chicago seniors and children ages 3-11 ($9 for non-residents) to see the entire aquarium, Oceanarium and our newest exhibit, Wild Reef. Or visit the aquarium’s main building — including Amazon Rising, the Caribbean Reef and other favorite exhibits — for FREE. Two great choices — two great deals on Mondays and Tuesdays!Smart Museum of Art
University of Chicago
5550 South Greenwood Avenue
773-702-0200
Free.Spertus Museum
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies
618 South Michigan Avenue
312-322-1747
Fridays free.Terra Museum of American Art
666 North Michigan Avenue
312-664-3939
“In celebration of Terra Museum’s 15 years on Michigan Avenue, admission is FREE. Suggested donation of $5 per adult is welcome.”Harold Washington Library Center
400 South State Street
312-747-4876
Free.Vietnam War Museum
954 West Carmen Avenue
773-728-6111
Free Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Check out top 10 Chicago Museums post for top must see museums to see in Chicago.