Neighborhood News: Museum Free Days warm a chilly winter

The great part of living in Chicago is that there are opportunities, year round, to visit some of the world’s best museums…for free!
Just book your free ticket(s) online, show up on the right day and time, have proper identification, and the world of Chicago’s museums are yours!
We did this as often as we could for our child when they were young. For us, there was nothing more rewarding than the look on their young face as they “Looked Nature in the Eye.”
Here are the upcoming free museum days in Chicago for Illinois residents:
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive/Museum Campus, is free for Illinois residents (with proof of residency) every Wednesday from 4 to 10 p.m. Note: As Chicago Parent observes, free admission is not included for their ‘Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon’ fulldome show.
Art Institute of Chicago, Michigan Avenue Entrance – 111 S. Michigan Ave. – Loop Modern Wing Entrance – 159 East Monroe St. is free Monday, Thursday, and Friday from January 6 to March 14. The specific dates are:
- January 2025: 23, 24, 27, 30, 31
- February 2025: 3, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28
- March 2025: 3, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14
Throughout the year, kids under 14 and Chicago teens under 18 are always free.
Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue, hosts a Free Family Day on Thursday, February 6, from10am to 5pm.
On this Free Family Day, Chicago Children’s Museum is celebrating the grand re-opening of their popular Zoom Room. The museum will also have special programming from Chicago Children’s Theatre and a pop-up installation.
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street. This Lincoln Park treasure has free days on:
- January 28 –31
- February 4 –7, 11-14, 17, 18 –21, 25 –28
Chicago History Museum also offers free admission for Illinois residents under 18 and all children under 12.
The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Place. The nation’s oldest independent African-American museum offers free entry on select dates and for certain groups, and free admission for all every Wednesday.
Admission is always free for military and first responders, University of Chicago students, Chicago Park District employees, Illinois public school students, and other groups.
The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. – South Loop/Museum Campus offers free admission every Wednesday, as Do312.com says, Illinois residents “can discover the wonders of the natural world and the human story.” Upcoming dates include:
- January 2025: 29th
- February 2025: 5, 12, 19, 26
- March 2025: 5, 12, 19, 26
Show proof of residency for a treat: all free admissions include Evolving Planet, The Ancient Americas, and Inside Ancient Egypt.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is free for Illinois residents on the following days in 2025:
- Jan. 13, 14, 15, 26, 27, 28, 29
- Feb. 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is always free for United States military active-duty personnel and veterans, Illinois POWs, Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers, and Illinois teachers (Pre-K through 12th grade).
At the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue, they are free every Tuesday for Illinois residents.
MCA Chicago, as Chicago Parent notes, offers free admission to all children. During the year, they also offer free admission for their Family Days, usually on Saturdays.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, offers free admission for Illinois residents every Thursday for weekly donation days. $10 optional donation suggested.
John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, is free on the following days:
- January 2025: 28-30
- February 2025: 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27
- March 2025: 4, 11, 18, 25
- April 2025: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
- May 2025: 6, 13, 20, 27
Illinois residents can also enjoy free admission on Tuesdays evening from 5-9 pm.
Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark Street. At this Andersonville treasure, there’s free admission every second Tuesday of the month year-round. Children aged 1 year or younger are admitted free.
And remember…if you’re a school teacher in Illinois, you have a free pass to every museum in the city! I know this personally, as some of my dearest friends are teachers. One friend took her kids to the Museum of Ice Cream, 435 N. Michigan Avenue, Lucky kids!
Enjoy winter, everyone!
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago