When I was a kid, museums located on Chicago Park District land, that’s most of Chicago’s busiest museums, were required to offer free admission one day each week. That changed. Now these museums are required to offer 52 free days per year – either one day per week or bunched together however they see fit. This explains why finding free days is confusing.

Here are Free Days at Chicago Museums from Monday, May 7 through Sunday, May 13, 2012.

Art Institute of Chicago, Wednesday, May 9. FREE general admission for Illinois residents only.

Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier Thursday, May 10, 2012 from 5-8 pm. Free general admission for all visitors.

Museum of Contemporary Art Tuesday, May 8, 2012. FREE general admission for Illinois residents only.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Thursday, May 10, 2012. FREE general admission for Illinois residents only.

DuSable Museum of African-American Art Sunday, May 13, 2012. FREE general admission for Illinois residents only.

Loyola University Museum of Art Tuesday, May 8, 2012. FREE general admission for all visitors.

Clarke House Museum Wednesday, May 9, 2012. FREE guided tours are limited to 12 guests, first-come, first-served.

Glessner House Museum Wednesday, May 9, 2012. FREE guided tours are limited to 12 guests, first-come, first-served.

Charnley-Persky House Wednesday, May 9,  2012. FREE guided tours are offered every Wednesday at 12 Noon.  Tours are limited to 15 guests, first-come, first-served.

And always free to the public: National Museum of Mexican Art, The Smart Museum of Art, Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, The Museum of Contemporary Photography and The DePaul Art Museum.

Hey, Chicagoans – If you don’t already have a library card, get one at your local branch of the Chicago Public Library and your family can visit 14 Chicago museums for free almost anytime through the Kraft Great Kids Museum Pass Program.