2018 Free Chicago Museum Days. Visiting museums can be very expensive. Thanks to the Illinois General Assembly many museums are mandated by law to offer Illinois residents up to 52 free museum days each year. Some museums are free year round. Others offer free evenings. A valid ID is required for free or special admission prices.
Many Illinois Resident free days in September 2018 (scroll down for info on each museum)
- Adler Planetarium Sunday September 9-Sunday, September 16, 9:30am-4pm
- Field Museum Saturday, September 15, Friday, September 17 and Sunday, September 30 9am-5pm, with last admission at 4pm
- John G. Shedd Aquarium Illinois Tuesday, September 4 – Sunday, September 30, 9am-6pm
- Museum of Science and Industry September 4-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27, 9:30am-4pm
Always call first. Multiple times.
I always recommend that everyone always call everywhere first to confirm things like free days because things change constantly. I don’t recommend checking online exclusively because websites aren’t always updated. That’s why I always try and post phone numbers. In fact personally if I were making a big trip I would call a couple times because many times people answering the phones aren’t aware of what’s going on! Large cultural institutions do not send out updates to their free days. Most don’t respond to emails.
***If you like this post and are interested in the latest news on deals, discounts and free events in Chicago, sign up for the daily Chicago on the Cheap newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook and on Twitter. Cheers!***
If the free museum dates don’t work for you consider purchasing:
Here are some other things to do on the cheap:
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr., 312-922-7827
Free general admission for Illinois residents.
January 3, 4, 7-12, 15-19
February 2, 5-9, 19-22
March 24-April 4, April 6-8
June 21
August 27-31
September 9-16
October 8, 21, 24, 25
November 11, 12, 14, 15
December 1, 3-7, 10
What you get on free day at the Adler Planetarium
American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan, 2nd Floor. (312) 374-8790. No free days.
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave., 312-443-3600
Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is free to Illinois residents every Thursday evening from 5-8pm. Illinois residents receive free admission to the museum’s galleries as part of Free Winter Weekdays, January 8–February 15.
Children ages 14-17, who are residents of the City of Chicago, are free on all days with a school ID, drivers license, report card or other document indicating that they are a resident of the City of Chicago. All children under age 14 are always free.
Guide to the Art Institute of Chicago
Free Family Fun at the Art Institute of Chicago
Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd; Brookfield, 708-688-8000
Through Feb. 28, 2018: free admission on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.. March 1-September 30, 2018 no free days.
What you get on Free Days at Brookfield Zoo
Charnley-Persky House Museum, 1365 N. Astor Street, 312-573-1365
Free tour on Wednesdays 12PM
Chicago Children’s Museum, 700 E Grand Ave, 312-527-1000
First Sunday of each month free admission for visitors 15 and under. Admission is free for all visitors on Thursday evenings 5-8pm.
Chicago Design Museum, Block 37, 108 N. State, 3rd Floor
This free museum is completely volunteer run and closes between exhibits.
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N Clark St., 312-642-4600
The Museum is free to Illinois residents every Tuesday from 12:30 to 9:00 p.m. and on Commemorative Days: January 15, Presidents’ Day February 20, March 4, and July 4. Excludes January 2, January 9, December 18 and December 25.
Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, Raymond B. & Jean T. Lee Center, 238 West 23rd St., 312-949-1000
Suggested donation $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors.
Clarke House Museum, 1827 S Indiana Ave., 312-326-1480
Free public one hour guided tours Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1pm and 2:30pm. Admission is free.
DePaul University Art Museum, 935 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-325-7506
Admission is free for all visitors year round.
DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E 56th Pl., 773-947-0600
Admission is free to all on each Tuesday of the year. The museum also offers free admission rates (on school days) to all Chicago Public School students.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum, 230 S. LaSalle Street, 312-322-2400
Free all days. Free certified guide tour Monday-Friday 1PM.
Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr., 312-922-9410
Free basic admission is free for Illinois residents with valid proof of residency of Free Admission Days.
January 3, 4, 15, 27, 28
February 1-28
June 20-22
More days TBA
What you get on free day at the Field Museum
Foodseum, Block 37, Pop up location closed Dec. 20, 2015. New location TBA.
Glessner House Museum, 1800 S. Prairie Ave., (312) 326-1480
Tours are free on Wednesdays, year round (not applicable to groups of ten or more).
International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312.642.6502
Admission is free for all visitors every Tuesday, year round.
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 800 S. Halsted, 312-413-5353
A $5 donation is requested.
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N Clark St, (312) 742-2000. Always free. Open year round.
Loyola University Museum of Art, 820 N Michigan Ave, 312-915-7600
Admission is free for all visitors every Tuesday, year round.
McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum, 376 N Michigan Ave., 312-977-0227
Free on Sundays. Watch the Chicago Bridge lifts on Wednesday and Saturday
Museum of Broadcast Communications, 360 N State St, (312) 245-8200
No free days.
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave., 312-280-2660
Admission is free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays year round.
Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S Michigan Ave, (312) 663-5554
Free admission daily.
Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S Lake Shore Dr., 773-684-1414
Free general admission for Illinois residents.
January 8–11, 15–18, 22–25, 29–31
February 1, 5–8, 12–15, 20–22, 26–27
March 14
June 4–7, 11–12
September 4–6, 10–13, 17–20, 24–27
November 12
What you get on free day at the Museum of Science and Industry
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th St, 312-738-1503
Free admission daily.
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, 3015 West Division St., 773-486-8345
Free admission daily.
National Veterans Art Museum, 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 2nd floor, 312-326-0270
Free admission daily.
The Oriental Institute Museum, 1155 E 58th St, 773-702-9520
Free admission daily with a suggested donation of $10 adult and $5 child.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N Cannon Dr, 773-755-5100
Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents year round.
Pritzker Military Museum and Library, 104 S Michigan Ave, (312) 374-9333
Free the Saturday before Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.
Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-939-2438
Illinois residents get access to almost all exhibits on free day.
January 15, 18, 19, 22-26
February 2, 14
June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19
September 4-30
October 3, 10
What you get on free day at the Shedd Aquarium
Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S Greenwood Ave., 773-702-0200
Free admission daily.
Swedish American Museum, 5211 N Clark St., 773-728-8111
Admission is free for all visitors on the second Tuesday of the month, year round.
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave., (773) 227-5522
Admission free: $5 donation requested
Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago, 2249 W. Superior St., 312-421-8020
Admission free: $5 donation requested
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Kids Museum Passport
This program, sponsored by the 15 Museums Work for Chicago institutions, allows individuals with a Chicago Public Library card to check out a pass for free general admission to the Art Institute. (This program replaces the Kraft Great Kids Museum Passport Program, which has been offered by CPL since 2003.) Please note the new rules regarding the use of the Kids Museum Passport:
- Each pass admits a maximum of four people for general admission, including special exhibitions.
- Each group using a pass must be accompanied by at least one child under the age of 18.
- A maximum of two adults are admitted on one pass.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Bank of America Museums on Us. On the first weekend of every month, anyone with a Bank of America credit or debit card can get free admission to museums nationwide through the Museums on Us program. Museums included under this program are:
- Adler Planetarium
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Chicago History Museum
- Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
- The Morton Arboretum
- Museum of Contemporary Art, National Veterans Art Museum
- National Veterans Art Museum
- Shedd Aquarium
2018 Museums on Us Dates
January 6 & 7
February 3 & 4
March 3 & 4
April 7 & 8
May 5 & 6
June 2 & 3
July 7 & 8
August 4 & 5
September 1 & 2
October 6 & 7
November 3 & 4
December 1 & 2
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Smithsonian Magazine Free Days: September Participating museums vary each year.
Adler Planetarium
Chicago on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at 