Neighborhood News: Free Museum Days in September
Technically, summer is over, and the kids may be back in school, but Chicago’s iconic museums continue their free days throughout the fall and winter seasons!
This month, take advantage of Labor Day, the kids’ Institute Days and other school holidays to enjoy exhibits like impressionist Gustave Caillebotte at the Loop’s Art Institute of Chicago or viewing The Great Chicago Adventure Film at Lincoln Park’s Chicago History Museum.
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Illinois residents can enjoy free admission (with proof of residency) every Wednesday from 4pm to 10 pm. Wednesday tickets include entry to the museum at one of the designated entry times, 4pm or 7pm (last admission 9pm). You may enter anytime after your chosen entry time, and up to the next designated entry time.
NOTE: Admission is always free for Illinois teachers.
Make sure to book online and in advance by clicking here.
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Avenue,hosts Free Thursday Evenings for Illinois residents through September 25th between 5pm–8pm.
AND…Admission is ALWAYS free for children under 14. These free tickets are available online as well as on-site at the admissions counters.
Museum admission is free for Chicago teens under the age of 18, as well as Active-Duty Military with ID, as well as Illinois educators and LINK and WIC cardholders. Present your card along with a valid photo ID. Reserve your tickets here.
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street. Explore both Chicago and American history at their upcoming Illinois resident FREE days on Wednesday, September 1, 10, and 24.
Throughout the year, admission is always free for active-duty military and active-duty Chicago police and firefighters, Illinois teachers, Illinois residents under age 18, and all children under 12. For tickets, click here.
The Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free admission for Illinois residents is Every Wednesday through September 24, from 9am-5pm. Guests need to show proof of residency for an enriching experience that spans over a century.
Note: All free general admission exhibitions include Evolving Planet, The Ancient Americas, and Inside Ancient Egypt. For tickets and information, click here.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. MSI has multiple free dates in September, including the 2-4, 7-10, 14-17, 22-24, 29, and 30. The largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, as Do312.com notes, offers Illinois residents free museum entry with valid proof of residency, bringing science to life for children and adults.
Pricing is applied at checkout. For tickets and reservations, click here.
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue. Every Tuesday Evening from 5pm to 9pm, year-round, the iconic Streetervilleinstitutionisthe essence of contemporary art. The museum is also free for anyone 18 and under on any day of the week.
For information, click here.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Every Thursday is free for Illinois residents at this Lincoln Park destination for nature enthusiasts and families seeking to connect with the diverse ecology of Chicago and beyond. Suggested donations are $10 on free days. For tickets and information, click here.
Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark Street, in the heart of Andersonville. The “Little Sweden” of Chicago has free admission every second Tuesday of the month throughout the year, and Children aged 1 year or younger are admitted free every day they are open. Their current exhibit, We Are America, explores Swedish immigration to Chicago. There are environmental displays such as the deck of a steamship, a 19th century Swedish stuga (cottage), an early 20th century Swedish-American woodshop, and a mid-century Swedish-American kitchen.
If you plan on visiting with a group of 10 or more, it is highly recommended that you contact the museum so that they can accommodate you for a guided or self-guided tour. They are closed Labor Day. For more information, click here.
And a reminder…though not a museum, the Lincoln Park Zoo, 2400 N. Cannon Drive, offers free admission 365 days a year. Discover fascinating wildlife, make unforgettable memories, and embrace the thrill of the wild. September offers the best weather conditions to enjoy such exhibits as Farm-in-the-Zoo.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
