Learn More About Free Museum Days in Chicago
There are a handful of free museum days in Chicago on an annual or weekly basis to ensure that you have the chance to explore as many cultural exhibitions as possible. A few of the new museums, like wndr and 29Rooms, are the only exceptions, but we figure that once they’ve been a Chicago staple for a few years, they’ll introduce some more affordably priced days, too.
The good news is that there a couple of free admission Chicago museums that are totally free all year round! Yup, that’s right. You can walk through these halls as many times as you want and probably learn something new every time you go. Museums are a revolving door of knowledge, typically rotating their exhibits to give you a reason to come back. So you should! Take advantage of this awesome wealth of free education that has graced Chicago and go forth into the world, full of new insight and hopefully more open-minded.
Check out our list of free museums in Chicago. You’re welcome.
Busy Beaver Button Museum
3407 W Armitage Ave
Hours: Monday – Friday 9 AM–4 PM, Saturday – Sunday CLOSED
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe
Hours: Daily 7 AM – 9 PM
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St
Hours: Monday – Friday 10 AM – 7 PM, Saturday – Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM
Chicago Design Museum
108 N State St
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM
Clarke House Museum
1827 S Indiana Ave
Hours: Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays 1 PM and 2:30 PM – Guided Tours Only
DePaul Art Museum
935 W Fullerton
Hours: Monday – Tuesday CLOSED, Wednesday – Thursday 11 AM – 7 PM, Friday – Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM
The Edgewater Historical Society and Museum
5358 N Ashland Ave
Hours: Saturday – Sunday 1 PM – 4 PM, Monday – Friday CLOSED
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park Ave
Hours: Thursday – Tuesday 9 AM – 5 PM, Wednesday 9 AM – 8 PM
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 North Clark Street
Hours: Monday – Friday 10 AM – 5 PM, Saturday – Sunday 10 AM – 6:30 PM
Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art
40 Arts Circle Dr, Evanston
Hours: Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM, Wednesday – Friday 10 AM – 8 PM, Monday CLOSED
Money Museum
230 S Lasalle St
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5 PM, Saturday – Sunday CLOSED
Museum of Contemporary Photography
600 S Michigan Ave
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Thursday 10 AM – 8 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W 19th St
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM, Monday CLOSED
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
3015 West Division St
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 10 AM – 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM, Sunday – Monday CLOSED
National Veterans Art Museum
4041 N Milwaukee Ave
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday – Monday CLOSED
The Oriental Institute Museum
1155 E 58th St
Hours: Thursday – Tuesday 10 AM – 5 PM, Wednesday 10 AM – 8 PM
Smart Museum of Art
5550 S Greenwood Ave
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday – Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM, Thursday 10 AM – 8 PM, Monday CLOSED
Ukrainian National Museum
2249 W Superior St
Hours: Thursday – Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM, Monday – Wednesday CLOSED
U.S. Pizza Museum
1146 S Delano Ct W
Hours: Friday 1 PM – 8 PM, Saturday – Sunday 11 AM – 6 PM, Monday – Thursday CLOSED
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