Every Free Museum in Chicago
If museum visits bring up flashbacks to nightmarish field trips past, rectify that as an adult by checking out any of these 35 Chicago museums for FREE! We’ve sorted each museum’s free days by day of the week and/or seasonality and many require a valid Illinois ID (sorry, tourists). You’re guaranteed to become more cultured or your money back.
78 E Washington St
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9am-7pm; Fri-Sat, 9am-6pm; Sun, 10am-6pm
5358 N Ashland Ave
Hours: Sat-Sun, 1-4pm
230 S Lasalle St
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm
2001 N Clark St
Hours: Every day, 10am-4:30pm and extended hours seasonally
2249 W Superior St
Hours: Thurs-Sun, 11-4pm
600 S Michigan Ave
Hours: Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat, 10am-5pm; Thurs, 10am-8pm; Sun, noon-5pm
1852 W 19th St
Hours: Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm
5550 S Greenwood Ave
Hours: Galleries are closed for reinstallation until September 11th, 2015. Regular hours (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-3pm; Sat-Sun, 11am-3pm) resume September 12th.
935 W Fullerton Ave
Hours: Wed-Thurs, 11am-7pm; Fri, 11am-5pm; Sat-Sun, noon-5pm
3015 W Division St
Hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sat, 10am-1pm
4041 N Milwaukee Ave
Hours: Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm
Notes: On the second floor
108 N State St
Hours: Tues-Sat, noon-7pm
Notes: On the third floor
1365 N Astor St
Hours: Noon tours are free every Wednesday, April-October
1524 N Lake Shore Dr
Tuesday hours: 10am-4pm
220 E Chicago Ave
Tuesday hours: 10am-8pm
820 N Michigan Ave
Tuesday hours: 11am-8pm
5211 N Clark St
Tuesday hours: 10am-4pm
Note: Free on the second Tuesday of each month
1827 S Indiana Ave
Wednesday hours: Tours of Chicago’s oldest house led by trained docents are available at noon and 2pm.
Note: Does not apply to groups of 10 or more
1800 S Prairie Ave
Wednesday hours: Tours led by trained docents are available at 1pm and 3pm.
Note: Does not apply to groups of 10 or more
1365 N Astor St
Wednesday hours: Noon tours are free.
111 S Michigan Ave
Thursday hours: Free hours for Illinois residents run 5-8pm.
Note: Children under the age of 14 are always free, as are several outdoor spaces.
700 E Grand Ave
Thursday hours: Target Free Family night from 5-8pm
4740 N Western Ave
Saturday hours: 11am-3pm, or by appointment
Note: This is part of the Dank Haus German American Cultural Center.
700 E Grand Ave
Sunday hours: 10am-7pm
Note: The first Sunday of each month is free for visitors age 15 and under.
740 E 56th Pl
Sunday hours: Noon-5pm
376 N Michigan Ave
Sunday hours: 10am-5pm
5700 S Lake Shore Dr
Hours: Mon-Sun, 9:30-4pm
Note: Free on select days. Check back here.
1400 S Lake Shore Dr
Hours: Mon-Sun, 9am-5pm
Note: Free on select days throughout the year. Check back here.
1200 S Lake Shore Dr
Hours: Mon-Sun, 9am-6pm
Note: Free on select Mondays and Tuesdays. Only applicable to Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, and Amazon Rising.
1601 N Clark St
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:30am-4:30pm; Sun, noon-5pm
Note: Free on select days throughout the year. Check back here.
1300 S Lakeshore Dr
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9:30-4pm; Sat-Sun, 9:30am-4:30pm
Note: Free on select days throughout the year. Check back here.
1155 E 58th St
Hours: Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm
Suggested donation: $10 for adults, $5 for kids under 12
2430 N Cannon Dr
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm (Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents year-round.)
Suggested donation: $9, $7 for students and seniors, $6 for children (3-12), free for children under 3
800 S Halsted St
Hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sat, noon-4pm
Suggested donation: $5
238 W 23rd St
Hours: Tues-Fri, 9:30am-1:30pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm
Suggested donation: $5
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