2019 brings with it a whole new batch of museum free days! Be sure to check out these two amazing programs for other ways to save and enjoy your favorite Museums for much less, Museums for All and Blue Star Museums. What new museum will you check out this year?
The Big 6 Chicago Museums
Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60605
312-922-7827
These are Illinois resident discount days
- January 21-22, 29-31
- February 5-7, 12-14, 18-21, 26-28
- April 2-4, 9-11
- June 3-5, 10-13
- September 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27
- October 7-9, 14-16
- November 8, 11
- December 2-3, 7, 12-13
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603
312-443-3600
- Free admission every Thursday 5-8PM to Illinois residents
700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
312-527-1000
312-527-1000
- Free admission every Thursday 5PM-8PM
- First Free Sunday - Free admission for visitors 15 and under on the first Sunday of each month
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
312-922-9410
Illinois residents can enjoy free Basic admission on Field Museum Discount Days. On these Discount Days, Illinois residents may upgrade to a Discovery Pass for $16 or upgrade to an All-Access Pass for $23.
- January 21
- February 1-28
- April 5-7
- June 26-28
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637
773-684-1414
These are Illinois resident discount days.
- January 7–10, 14–17, 21–24, 28–31
- February 4–7, 11–14, 19–21, 25–28
Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
312-939-2438
- January 17-21
- February 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-28
Art
Elmhurst Art Museum
150 Cottage Hill Ave. Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
630-834-0202
150 Cottage Hill Ave. Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
630-834-0202
- Free admission the first Friday of the month
847-491-4000
- Free daily admission
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
220 South Cottage Hill Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126
630-833-1616
- Free admission every Friday
Loyola University Museum of Art
820 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
312-915-7600
- Free admission every Tuesday
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
312-280-2660
- Free admission every Tuesday for Illinois residents
National Veterans Art Museum
4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue Chicago, IL 60641
312-326-0270
- Free daily admission
Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago
5550 S. Greenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-0200
- Free daily admission
Ethnic Museums
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637
773-947-0600
- Free admission every Tuesday
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 West 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
312-738-1503
- Free daily admission
Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago
1155 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-9514
- Free daily admission
Swedish American Museum
5211 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60601
773-728-8111
- Free admission every second Tuesday of the month
History Museums
Robert McCormick Museum and
First Division Museum (at Cantigny)
1S151 South Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
630-668-5161
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
312-642-4600
Illinois resident discount days
Clarke House Museum
1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
312-326-1480
Robert McCormick Museum and
First Division Museum (at Cantigny)
1S151 South Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
630-668-5161
- Free daily admission to museums, $5 parking fee per car
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
312-642-4600
Illinois resident discount days
- Every Tuesday from 12:30 to 9:00 p.m. and on Commemorative Days: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, March 4, and July 4. *Excludes January 2, January 9, December 18th & December 25th.
Clarke House Museum
1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
312-326-1480
- Free admission
102 E. Wesley Street Wheaton, Illinois 60187
630-510-4941
630-510-4941
- Free daily admission
120 E. Park Ave. Elmhurst, IL 60126
630-833-1457
630-833-1457
- Free daily admission
Glessner House Museum
1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
312-326-1480
- Free on Wednesdays
Jane Addams Hull House at UIC
800 S. Halsted Chicago, IL 60607-7017
312-413-5353
- Suggested donation of $5
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N. Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60610
312-642-6502
- Free on Tuesdays
312-322-2400
- Free daily admission
Naper Settlement
523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 60540
630-420-6010
- Free general admission for Naperville residents. Discounted rate during the winter season (November-March)
2531 Sheridan Road Great Lakes, IL 60088
847-688-3154
- Free daily admission
Pritzker Military Museum and Library
104 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
312-374-9333
104 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
312-374-9333
- April 6
- May 9, 25, 27
- June 14
- July 4
- August 4
- September 11, 18
- October 13
- November 10, 11
- December 7, 13
Local Historical Societies & Museums
These local historical institutions usually have free admission, suggested donation or an extremely low fee which will usually include a tour. Since a majority these institutions are run by volunteers be sure to check what their hours are since sometimes they will only be open certain days of the week to the public.
Nature Museums, Farms & Zoos
Brookfield Zoo
8400 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513
708-688-8000
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022
847-835-5440
Cantigny
1S151 South Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
630-668-5161
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 North Central Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624
312-746-5100
Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum
5700 College Road Lisle, IL 60532
630-829-6569
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
312-742-2000
Brookfield Zoo
8400 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513
708-688-8000
- General admission is free on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022
847-835-5440
- Free daily admission, parking fees apply
Cantigny
1S151 South Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
630-668-5161
- Free daily admission, $5 parking
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 North Central Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624
312-746-5100
- Free daily admission
Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum
5700 College Road Lisle, IL 60532
630-829-6569
- Free daily admission
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
312-742-2000
- Free daily admission
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
773-755-5100
The Grove
1421 Milwaukee Avenue, Glenview, IL
847-299-6096
Wagner Farm
1510 Wagner Road, Glenview, IL 60026
847-657-1506
2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
773-755-5100
- Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents
The Grove
1421 Milwaukee Avenue, Glenview, IL
847-299-6096
- Free daily admission
Wagner Farm
1510 Wagner Road, Glenview, IL 60026
847-657-1506
- Free daily admission
***While this list is pretty comprehensive there are a number of museum's that don't advertise free/discounted days but you should definitely be sure to check them out as well because there are some amazing museums in the Chicago area***
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