2010 Chicago Museum Free Days

Here are the Free Admission Days for all the Chicago museums that I could find. I know there are more, but these seem to be the biggies. Note: For most of these the General Admission is free, but you still have to pay for the special features/exhibits.

Adler Planetarium
January 5, 11-15, 19, & 26
February 2, 8-12, 16, & 23
March 2, 9, 16, & 23
April 20 & 27
May 4, 11, 12, 18 & 25
June 7-11
September 7, 13-17, 21, & 28
October 5, 12, 19, & 26
November 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30
December 7, 14, & 21


Art Institute of Chicago
Thursdays 5-8pm


Chicago Children’s Museum
Free first Sunday of every month for ages 15 & under
Free Thursdays 5-8pm for everyone


Chicago History Museum
Free on Mondays


DuSable Museum of African-American History
Free on Sundays


Field Museum of Natural History
Not yet posted


Museum of Contemporary Art
Free on Tuesdays


Museum of Science & Industry
January 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
February 8, 14
March 18
April 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
May 3
June 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
August 30
September 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
October 4, 5, 6
November 11
December 6


National Museum of Mexican Art
Free admission every day. Performances do carry admission costs.


Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Thursdays are Suggested Donation Days



Shedd Aquarium
Community Discount Days:
Jan. 4, 5, 11,12, 25 and 26;
Feb. 1, 2, 8, 9, 22 and 23;
Sept. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28;
Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26; and
Nov. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30.
Community Discount Weeks:
Jan. 16–21; Feb. 15–19; and June 14–18.

Art Institute

I'm winding down from the semester and cleaning and organizing and meeting some deadlines this week, so nothing new here. Unless you want to read my blatherings on my strange reluctance to buy a plane ticket.

Instead, I'd like to direct you to my friend Heather's blog, where she waxes rhapsodic about the newest changes at the Chicago Art Institute. Be sure to read her comment there as well. It's even more detailed than her post about why the Art Institute is such a fabulous place.

I got to trundle through it with Heather and Chris (a fellow alum) when I was in Chicago last July. It was lovely and they were very VERY patient with me and my slow pace and my tears (art makes me emotional) and my gawking. If you want my impressions from that morning's visit, you can click on the link in this paragraph.

I still can't believe I'll be in the same city soon.