Get Ready for Summer! Free Chicago Museum Days!
Are you looking for something fun and educational to do this summer? Visit Chicago’s world-class museums! If you’re an Illinois resident, stop by during Illinois Resident Discount Days and receive free admission. If you’re not an Illinois resident, there are free admission opportunities for everyone!
Adler Planetarium, 1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
June 3-5, 10-12
No dates for July
No dates for August
Chicago History Museum, 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago
No dates for June
July 4
August 17-21, 24-28, 31
The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
June 4-5, 8
No dates for July
August 11-13
Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
June 1-5, 8
No dates for July
No dates for August
Shedd Aquarium, 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
June 1-2, 8-9, 15-16
No dates for July
No dates for August
Here are a few tips to remember:
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
General admission is free to Illinois residents on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
August 6, 13, 20, 27
Charnley-Persky House Museum, 1365 North Astor Street, Chicago
Tours are free on Wednesdays at 12 noon and are approximately 60 minutes. Tours are limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-served basis (arrive early!).
June 3, 10, 17, 24
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
August 5, 12, 19, 26
Chicago Children’s Museum, Navy Pier, 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
August 6, 13, 20, 27
Admission is free for visitors 15 and under on the first Sunday of every month.
June 7
July 5
August 2
Clarke House Museum, 1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago
Glessner House Museum, 1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago
Tours are free on Wednesdays. Clarke House tours begin at 12 noon and 2 p.m. and Glessner House tours begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours begin at the Visitor’s Center at the Glessner House Museum and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours fill quickly, so arrive early!
June 3, 10, 17, 24
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
August 5, 12, 19, 26
DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 East 56th Place, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays.
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 5, 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25
Loyola University Museum of Art, 820 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays. Free guided tours are given at 12 noon and 2 p.m.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, 376 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays.
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 5, 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Free admission is given to Illinois residents on Tuesdays.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago
Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents.
June 4, 11, 18, 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
August 6, 13, 20, 27
Swedish American Museum, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month.
June 9
July 14
August 11
Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago
Free guided tours begin at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of every month. These tours offer the public an opportunity to enjoy highlights from the club’s art collection. Reservations are required.
June 1
July 6
August 3
The places highlighted below always have free admission for everyone.
City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower, 806 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibit is Charlie Trotter: Chef, Artist, Thinker
DePaul Art Museum, 935 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibitions are Liminal Infrastructure and Sonja Thomsen: Glowing Wavelengths In Between (both through August 9)
Money Museum, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 South LaSalle Street, Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago, 600 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibition is Dandy Lion: (Re)Articulating Black Masculine Identity (through July 12)
Upcoming exhibition is North Korean Perspectives (beginning July 23)
Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, 5550 South Greenwood Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibition is Objects and Voices: A Collection of Stories (through June 21)
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, 610 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibit is A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York (first floor vestibule)
For additional places with free admission, please refer to my previously published article, "Free Museums, Art Exhibitions, and More . . . (Part Two)."
When planning your visit, please review each website for up-to-date information.
June, July, and August Illinois Resident Discount Days
Adler Planetarium, 1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
June 3-5, 10-12
No dates for July
No dates for August
Chicago History Museum, 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago
No dates for June
July 4
August 17-21, 24-28, 31
The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
June 4-5, 8
No dates for July
August 11-13
Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
June 1-5, 8
No dates for July
No dates for August
Shedd Aquarium, 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
June 1-2, 8-9, 15-16
No dates for July
No dates for August
Here are a few tips to remember:
- Free admission is for general or basic admission.
- Discounts may be available on upgrades to special exhibits, films, expanded museum access, and other features.
- Additional Chicago residency discounts generally are not available in addition to the free admission and upgrade discounts.
- Bring a valid Illinois ID to show proof of residency.
- Dates may change, so review websites regularly.
Places Offering Free Admission Periodically
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
General admission is free to Illinois residents on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
August 6, 13, 20, 27
Charnley-Persky House Museum, 1365 North Astor Street, Chicago
Tours are free on Wednesdays at 12 noon and are approximately 60 minutes. Tours are limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-served basis (arrive early!).
June 3, 10, 17, 24
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
August 5, 12, 19, 26
Chicago Children’s Museum, Navy Pier, 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
August 6, 13, 20, 27
Admission is free for visitors 15 and under on the first Sunday of every month.
June 7
July 5
August 2
Clarke House Museum, 1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago
Glessner House Museum, 1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago
Tours are free on Wednesdays. Clarke House tours begin at 12 noon and 2 p.m. and Glessner House tours begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours begin at the Visitor’s Center at the Glessner House Museum and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours fill quickly, so arrive early!
June 3, 10, 17, 24
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
August 5, 12, 19, 26
DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 East 56th Place, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays.
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 5, 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25
Loyola University Museum of Art, 820 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays. Free guided tours are given at 12 noon and 2 p.m.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, 376 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays.
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 5, 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Free admission is given to Illinois residents on Tuesdays.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago
Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents.
June 4, 11, 18, 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
August 6, 13, 20, 27
Swedish American Museum, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month.
June 9
July 14
August 11
Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago
Free guided tours begin at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of every month. These tours offer the public an opportunity to enjoy highlights from the club’s art collection. Reservations are required.
June 1
July 6
August 3
Free Admission for Everyone
The places highlighted below always have free admission for everyone.
City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower, 806 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibit is Charlie Trotter: Chef, Artist, Thinker
DePaul Art Museum, 935 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibitions are Liminal Infrastructure and Sonja Thomsen: Glowing Wavelengths In Between (both through August 9)
Money Museum, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 South LaSalle Street, Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago, 600 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibition is Dandy Lion: (Re)Articulating Black Masculine Identity (through July 12)
Upcoming exhibition is North Korean Perspectives (beginning July 23)
Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, 5550 South Greenwood Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibition is Objects and Voices: A Collection of Stories (through June 21)
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, 610 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Current exhibit is A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York (first floor vestibule)
For additional places with free admission, please refer to my previously published article, "Free Museums, Art Exhibitions, and More . . . (Part Two)."
When planning your visit, please review each website for up-to-date information.