Neighborhood News: Free Museum Days in October
Welcome to October, and the days of Fall festivals, cooler temperatures, bonfires and Halloween! It’s also a month of free days at Chicago’s world famous museums.
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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.
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street. Explore both Chicago and American history at their upcoming Illinois resident FREE days on Wednesday, October 8, 13, and 25.
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.
TheDuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Place, offers free entry on select dates and for certain groups.
There’s free admission for all every Wednesday.
AND…Admission is always free for military and first responders, University of Chicago students, Chicago Park District employees, Illinois public school students, and other groups. For tickets and information, click here.
The Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free admission for Illinois residents is Every Wednesday from 9am-5pm. In October, you can beat the mid-week blues and come visit SUE, on the 8, 15, 22 and 29. 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 October, including the 6 – 8, 14, 15. 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 Streeterville institution is the 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.
The Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, offers Illinois residents free access to all permanent exhibits on select dates throughout the year. In October, you can enjoy free Tuesday evenings from 5pm-9pm on the 7th, 14, 21, and 28.
Illinois Resident Free Hours include access to all exhibits and seasonal Stingray Touch.
Admission is always free for Chicago police officers and firefighters, active-duty U.S. military personnel, and educators from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a $5 convenience fee per order for Free Hours reservations made online.
HOWEVER, you can reserve tickets by phone with no convenience fee by calling 312-939-2438.
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. 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.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
