Enjoy Free Admission at Chicago's Museums This Summer

Are you looking for something fun, educational, and free to do this summer? Visit Chicago’s world-class museums! Read on to find out which museums are free and when admission is free.

For additional Chicago museums, an interactive museum map, and links to current and upcoming temporary exhibitions, please visit the Museums page.

Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 800 South Halsted Street, Chicago
The museum suggests a donation of $5 per person; however, no one will be turned away for lack of a contribution.

Adler Planetarium, 1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Illinois residents receive free general admission on the following days:
June 6–8, 13–15
No dates have been announced for July.
No dates have been announced for August.

Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Illinois residents receive free general admission on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25

Busy Beaver Button Museum, 3279 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago
Admission is always free!

Charnley-Persky House Museum, 1365 North Astor Street, Chicago
Guided 45-minute tours are free on Wednesdays at 12 noon. Tours are limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-served basis (arrive early!).
June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
July 6, 13, 20, 27
August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

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 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25
Visitors age 15 and under receive free admission on the first Sunday of each month.
June 5
July 3
August 7

Chicago Design Museum, Block 37, 108 North State Street, 3rd Floor, Chicago
Admission is always free!

Chicago History Museum, 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago
Illinois residents receive free admission on the following days:
No dates have been announced for June.
July 4
August 22–25, 29–31

Chicago Sports Museum, Water Tower Place, 835 North Michigan Avenue, Level 7, Chicago
Guests of Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch restaurant (located next to the museum) receive free admission (with minimum purchase).

Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, 238 West 23rd Street, Chicago
The suggested donation is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and $3 for seniors.

Clarke House Museum, 1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago
Guided one-hour tours are free on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours are limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-served basis (arrive early!).
June 1, 3–4, 8, 10–11, 15, 17–18, 22, 24–25, 29
July 1–2, 6, 8–9, 13, 15–16, 20, 22–23, 27, 29–30
August 3, 5–6, 10, 12–13, 17, 19–20, 24, 26–27, 31

DePaul Art Museum, 935 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago
Admission is always free!

DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 East 56th Place, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays.
June 5, 12, 19, 26
July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August 7, 14, 21, 28

The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Illinois residents receive free basic admission on the following days:
June 21–23
No dates have been announced for July.
August 11, 27, 29

Fire Museum of Greater Chicago, 5218 South Western Avenue, Chicago
Currently, the museum is open on the fourth Saturday of each month, excluding December. On each of these days, the museum holds an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
June 25
July 23
August 27

Foodseum, Chicago
Foodseum had a pop-up location. Visit the museum online until its next location opens.
Admission is always free!

Glessner House Museum, 1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago
Guided 75-minute tours are free on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Tours are limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-served basis (arrive early!) and begin at the Visitor’s Center inside the main Prairie Avenue entrance.
June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
July 6, 13, 20, 27
August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Haitian American Museum of Chicago, 4654 North Racine Avenue, Chicago
The museum suggests a donation of $5.

Indo-American Heritage Museum, Chicago
The Indo-American Heritage Museum does not have its own physical location. Visit the museum online to view virtual exhibit galleries.

The museum does specially scheduled presentations to groups on request. The museum's programs are held at Chicago’s Indo-American Center at 6328 North California Avenue. Donations are accepted to support educational activities.

International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays.
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 5, 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Loyola University Museum of Art, 820 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays. Free guided tours are given at 12 noon, 2 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 5, 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, 376 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays.
June 5, 12, 19, 26
July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August 7, 14, 21, 28

Money Museum, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 South LaSalle Street, Chicago
Admission is always free!

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays.
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 5, 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago, 600 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is always free!

Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Illinois residents receive free museum entry on the following days:
June 1–3, 6–8
No dates have been announced for July.
No dates have been announced for August.

National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 West 19th Street, Chicago
Admission is always free!

National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, 3015 West Division Street, Chicago
Admission is always free!

National Veterans Art Museum, 4041 North Milwaukee Avenue, 2nd Floor, Chicago
Admission is always free!

The Oriental Institute Museum, The University of Chicago, 1155 East 58th Street, Chicago
Admission is always free! However, there is a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago
Admission is free for Illinois residents on Thursdays.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25

A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, 10406 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.
June 5
July 3
August 7

The Renaissance Society, The University of Chicago, 5811 South Ellis Avenue, Cobb Hall, 4th Floor, Chicago
Admission is always free!

Shedd Aquarium, 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Illinois residents receive free general admission on the following days:
June 6–7, 13–14
No dates have been announced for July.
August 29–30

Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, 5550 South Greenwood Avenue, Chicago
Admission is always free!

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 each month.
June 14
July 12
August 9

Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Admission is always free!

Blue Star Museums
The Blue Star Museums program offers free admission to the nation's active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information about the program, please visit the Blue Star Museums website. You can find program details on the Frequently Asked Questions page and Chicago's participating museums on the Illinois museums page.

Chicago Public Library Kids Museum Passport
A Chicago Public Library (CPL) cardholder who is an adult resident of Chicago can check out a Kids Museum Passport at any CPL location. A passport provides general admission for four people during regular museum hours. The group must include at least one child under 18 and can have a maximum of two adults. Please visit the above link to find museums participating in the program.

Museums on Us®
The Museums on Us® program offers Bank of America cardholders free general admission to museums across the United States on the first full weekend of each month. The website's search feature can be used to find a list and map of Chicago's participating museums.
June 4–5
July 2–3
August 6–7

Here are a few tips to remember:

  • Some museums may offer free or discounted admission for teachers, military personnel, military families, seniors, students, children, museum members, or members of affiliated museums. Please check the museum's website for offerings.

  • To receive free admission for Illinois residents, please bring a valid Illinois ID to show proof of residency.

  • Free admission for Illinois residents 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 Illinois resident admissions and upgrade discounts.


When planning your visit, please review each museum's website for the latest information.