How to Visit a Chicago Museum for Free in Winter 2012
Tara Burghart Monday, January 9, 2012 at 7:00AM Visiting a museum is often such a wonderful family-friendly activity, but it can sometimes be quite pricey, too. So here is an updated guide to our list from last fall, regarding the "Community Free Days" that many Chicago museums and zoos offer.
It won't cost you to check out this steam-propelled fire engine at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry on Illinois Free Days. Photo by YIM Hafix on Flickr.Note that these "free" days are often quite popular, so you might be fighting some crowds. Also, make sure to check the museum's website - or better yet, give the museum a call - to make sure nothing has changed since this list was compiled.
Finally, don't forget to check out the Museum Adventure Pass program that local libraries participate in.
* The Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. 312-922-7827. Free general admission for Illinois residents: Jan. 9-12, Jan. 17, Jan. 18, Jan. 23-26, Jan. 31; Feb. 1, Feb. 6-9, Feb. 14, Feb. 15, Feb. 21, Feb. 22, Feb. 28, Feb. 29; March 6, March 7.
* Museum of Science & Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive. 773-684-1414. Free general admission for Illinois residents on: Jan. 12-13; Jan. 16-22; Jan. 23-27; Jan. 30-31; Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, Feb. 29; March 5; April 19; May 23; June 4-8, June 11.
* Shedd Aquarium, 1200 South Lake Shore Drive on Chicago’s Museum Campus. 312-399-2438. Free general admission for Illinois residents on the following dates: Jan. 9-10, Jan. 15-17, Jan. 25-28, Jan 30-31; Feb. 6-7, Feb. 13-14, Feb. 19-23, Feb. 27-28; June 17-22.
* Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Avenue in Chicago. 312-280-2660. Admission is free for families with children 12 and under on "Family Days" usually held the second Satudays of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be hands-on art activities, scavenger hunts, a look & learn station and more. Children 12 and under eat free at Puck's on Family Day with purchase of one adult entree per child. Family Days are scheduled for Jan. 14; Feb. 12 (a Sunday instead of a Saturday); March 10; April 14 and May 12. Also, admission to the MCA is free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays year round.
* Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street in Chicago. 312-642-4600. Free general admission for Illinois residents on Jan. 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and from Feb. 5 through Feb. 29.
* The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago. 312-443-3600. The Art Institute is free to Illinois residents every weekday from Jan. 2 through Feb. 10, 2012. Children under 14 are always free except during group visits or student tours.
* The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. 312-922-9410. Free basic admission for Illinois residents on Jan. 11-13, Jan. 19-20, Jan. 24, Jan. 26-27, Jan. 31. (Note: Only the January schedule is currently posted.)
* Chicago Children’s Museum, 700 East Grand Avenue on Navy Pier in Chicago. 312-527-1000. Free for all visitors every Thursday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and free for all children 15 and under on the first Sunday of every month. Here is a coupon for $1 off each admission (up to 4 per family) if you visit on a regular day.
* Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive in Chicago. 773-755-5100. Free general admission for Illinois residents on Thursdays.
* DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place in Chicago. 773-947-0600. Admission is free to all on each Sunday of the year.
* Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street in Chicago. 312-742-2000. The zoo is free to all and open every day of the year.