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Free Museums and Free Museum Days for Kids in Chicago

Photo courtesy of the Museum of Science and Industry

1/13/23 - By Siobhan Adcock

Looking for free museums in Chicago? We have a list of Chicago's best free museums, plus free museum days at other top museums.

Chicago's museums, zoos, and parks rank among the best in the country—and lucky for busy, cash-strapped parents, many museums, zoos, gardens, and cultural institutions offer FREE or reduced admission at least once a month. Plus, many of the "grown-up" museums let kids in for free year-round, such as the Art Institute of Chicago. And most of the big institutions, including the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and the Field Museum, host popular free days just for Illinois residents throughout the year.

It can be hard to keep track of when and where these freebies are available, so we've compiled a list of reduced or free admission days and times at favorite Chicago cultural spots. Read on to find out when you can go to these fabulous Chicago museums for free.

If you're staying in town and plan to visit multiple attractions in the Chicago area (we’re looking at you, people with visiting relatives you’ll be squiring around town), it’s worth it to look into a Go City - Chicago sightseeing pass to save money on entrance fees to attractions like the Navy Pier, Field Museum, the aquarium, and the planetarium.

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Note: Some of these institutions typically have more free days, but due to limited capacity and closures over the past year, free days at some spots are on hold. All of these places have free admission for young children, residents, teachers, or military members, and we have outlined the current free admission policies below. We will continue to update this list as more free days are added! Some attractions below require masks, proof of vaccination, and/or reserved tickets even on free days. Please check the attraction website for Covid protocols.

1. Adler Planetarium

Children under 3, K-12 teachers, and active-duty military are always free. Illinois residents can get free admission on Wednesdays. Proof of residency is required. The Adler also participates in Museums For All, where any family that qualifies for state food assistance and has an EBT card may receive entry for up to eight people at $1 per guest.

American Writers Museum in Chicago
Photo courtesy of the American Writers Museum

2. American Writers Museum

Children under 12 are always free.

3. Art Institute of Chicago

Children under 14, Chicago teens aged 14-18, K-12 teachers, Link and WIC cardholders, and active-duty military are always free. All Illinois residents can get in free on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from January 9 through March 24, 2023.

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Brookfield Zoo photo by Maureen Wilkey

4. Brookfield Zoo

Children under 3 and military personnel are always free. In January and February 2023, all guests are free on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

5. Chicago Architecture Center

Children under 5 are always free.

Build and design your own structure using real tools in the Chicago Children's Museum's Skyline exhibit. Photo courtesy of Chicago Children’s Museum

6. Chicago Children's Museum

Children under 1 and active-duty military and veterans are always free. Chicago Children’s Museum is also a proud Museums for All partner, which allows anyone with an EBT or WIC card to be admitted to the museum for a discounted rate of $3 per person for up to six people (which must include at least one child).

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Cultural Center

7. Chicago Cultural Center

Admission is free for all year-round.

8. Chicago History Museum

Illinois resident children under 18, Illinois teachers, active-duty military, veterans, police, and firefighters are always free. There are also Illinois resident free days listed on the website. Non-Illinois residents under age 12 are free. In 2023, Illinois residents receive free admission January 16–20, 24–27, and 31 and February 1–3, 7–10, 14–17, 20–24, and 28.

9. Chicago Sports Museum

Children under 3 are always free. Guests of the adjacent Harry Caray's 7th Inning Stretch receive free admission with a minimum purchase ($10 adults, $8 students, $6 children and seniors).

10. Design Museum of Chicago

Admission is free for all year-round.

11. DuSable Museum of African American History

Admission is free for all year-round.

The Field Museum in Chicago
The Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Photo courtesy of the museum

12. Field Museum

Children under 3, K-12 teachers, and active-duty military are always free. Illinois residents are admitted free on select days throughout the year. Throughout January and February, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are free, as well as Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day. Proof of residency is required.

13. Garfield Park Conservatory

Admission is free for all year-round.

14. Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Children under 5 are always free. All visitors are admitted for free on the last Friday of each month. EBT and WIC Card holders can get in for free with the Museums for All program.

15. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

Children under 18 are always free.

16. Jane Addams Hull House Museum

Admission is always free with a suggested donation of $5.

17. Lincoln Park Conservatory

Admission is always free with a suggested donation.

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo photo by Maureen Wilkey

18. Lincoln Park Zoo

Admission is free for all year-round.

19. McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum - Open May through October

Children under 5 are admitted for free.

Kids Get in Free at Chicago Museums, Zoos, and Parks: Museum of Contemporary Art
Families contribute to a giant friendship bracelet at an MCA Family Day. Photo by Grace Needlman

20. Museum of Contemporary Art

Children under 18, members of the military and police and fire departments, and veterans are always free. Illinois residents are admitted free every Tuesday. Proof of residency is required. The museum also offers admission for $3 for WIC and EBT card holders through the Museums for All program.

21. Museum of Contemporary Photography

Admission is free for all year-round.

22. Museum of Illusions

Admission is free for kids 4 and under.

23. Museum of Mexican Art

Admission is free for all year-round.

Photo courtesy of the Museum of Science and Industry.

24. Museum of Science and Industry

Children under 3, K-12 teachers, veterans, active-duty military, police, and firefighters are always free. Illinois residents are admitted free on select days throughout the year, including most Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in January and February. Proof of residency is required.

28. Shedd Aquarium

Children under 3 are always free. Chicago residents are admitted for 50% off throughout the year, and in addition, Illinois residents are admitted free on select days throughout the year. Proof of residency is required. January free days for 2023 are the 12-16, and February free days include February 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, and 28.

29. Smart Museum of Art

Admission is free for all year-round.

30. The Swedish American Museum

Children under 1 are always free. Admission is free for all the second Tuesday of every month.

Unless noted, photos by the author

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