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Museum Free Days 

 

Welcoming to all, many of Chicago’s more than 50 cultural institutions, historic sites and museums have designated ‘free days’ throughout the year.

To encourage all to discover their unique and special attractions, on varying days of the week, museums throughout the city waive their general admittance fee. Note: Though they may not charge a general admittance fee, some museums may charge a fee to view special exhibits.

*Dates in 2009/2010 that Chicago Museums offer “Free Days” include:

 

Exterior of the Adler Planetarium.

The Adler Planetarium

Free Days:

October: 6, 13, 20, & 27
November: 3, 10, 17, & 24
December: 1, 8, 15, & 22

January: 5, 11-15, 19 &26
February: 2, 8-12, 16 & 23 
March: 2, 9, 16 & 23

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Museum of Science and Industry.

Museum of Science and Industry

Free Days:

February 8 & 14
March 18; April 19-23; May 3
June 7-11; August 30

September 7-14, 20, 21, 27 & 28

October 4-6;

November 11;

December 6

Exterior of the Shedd Aquarium.

Shedd Aquarium

Free Days:

October: 5, 6, 12, 13, 26 & 27
November: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16,17, 23, 24 & 30

January: 4, 5, 11, 12, 16-21, 25 & 26
February: 1, 2, 8, 9, 15-19, 22
March: None
Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Museum of Contemporary Art

Free Days:

October: 6, 13, 20, & 27
November: 3, 10, 17, & 24
December: 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
January: 5, 12, 19 & 26
February: 2, 9, 16 & 23
March: 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Train exhibit at the Chicago History Museum.

Chicago History Museum

Free Days:

October: 5, 12, 19 & 26
November: 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
December: 7, 14, 21 & 28
January: 4, 11, 18 & 25
February: 1, 8, 15 & 22
March: 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Loyola University Museum of Art.

Loyola University Museum of Art

Free Days:

October: 6, 13, 20 & 27
November: 3, 10, 17 & 24
December: 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
January: 5, 12, 19 & 26
February: 2, 9, 16 & 23
March: 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Clarke House Museum.

Clarke House Museum

Free Days:

October: 7, 14, 21 & 28
November: 4, 11, 18 & 25
December: 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
January: 6, 13, 20 & 27
February: 3, 10, 17 & 24
March: 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Swedish American Museum Center & Children’s Museum of Immigration.

Swedish American Museum

Free Days:

October: 13
November: 10
December: 8
January: 12
February: 9
March: 9

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Art Institute.

The Art Institute of Chicago

Free Days:

October: Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
November: Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
December: Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
January: Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
February: Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
March: Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Field Museum.

Field Museum

Free Days:

October: 1, 7, 8 & 12
November: 9, 11, 12, 18 & 19
December: 2, 3, 9, 10 & 14
January: 11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 26 & 27
February: 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 16, 17, 23 & 24 
March: None

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Little girl playing at the Children's Museum.

Chicago Children’s Museum on Navy Pier

Free Days:

October: 4, Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
November: 1, Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
December: 6, Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
January: 3, Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
February: 1, Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm
March: 1, Every Thursday, 5 - 8 pm

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Free Days:

October: 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
November: 5, 12, 18 & 26
December: 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
January: 7, 14, 21 & 28
February: 4, 11, 18 & 25
March: 4, 11, 18 & 25

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exerior of the DuSable Museum of African American History.

DuSable Museum of African American History

Free Days:

October: 4, 11, 18 & 25
November: 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
December: 6, 13, 20 & 27
January: 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
February: 7, 14, 21 & 28
March: 7, 14, 21 & 28

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Charnley-Persky House Museum.

Charnley-Persky House Museum 

Free Days:

October: 7, 14, 21 & 28
November: 4, 11, 18 & 25
December: 2, 9, 16, & 23
January: 6, 13, 20 & 27
February: 3, 10, 17 & 24
March: 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

Exterior of the Glessner House Museum.

Glessner House Museum

Free Days:

October: 7, 14, 21 & 28
November: 4, 11, 18 & 25
December: 2, 9, 16, & 23
January: 6, 13, 20 & 27
February: 3, 10, 17 & 24
March: 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31

Spring/Summer: Dates vary, visit website for more information.

*Dates of “Free Days” subject to changes based upon individual museum re-scheduling.
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