Chicago's Free Museums

 

This is an alphabetical listing of the free museums of Chicago. There is also a list of free museums arranged by day. Feel free to print this, send it to a friend or put it in your Chicago guide book.

Do you know of a good museum that I am missing? Fill out the free museum feedback form or email me at dennis@dennisobrien.net.

Day by day listing of Chicago's free museums

Back to Chicago's Free, Cheap, Late, Easy and Greasy

Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
312-922-7827
Monday and Tuesday beginning September 23 through the end of February.

American Bar Association Museum of Law
American Bar Association
750 N. Lake Shore Drive
312-988-5000
Free.

Art Institute of Chicago
Michigan and Adams
312-443-3600
Tuesdays free.

Arts Club of Chicago
201 East Ontario
312-787-3997
Free.

Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
6500 S. Pulaski
312-582-6500
Free Monday

Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art
Northwestern University
1967 South Campus Drive, Evanston
847-491-4000
Free.

Chicago Architecture Foundation
224 South Michigan Avenue
312-922-3432
Free.

Chicago Children's Museum
Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue
312-527-1000
Thursdays 5-8pm free.

Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington
312-346-3278
Free.

Chicago Historical Society
Clark at North Avenue
312-642-4600
Mondays free.

DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place
773-947-0600
Thursdays free.

Field Museum of Natural History
Roosevelt at Lake Shore Drive
312-922-9410
Wednesdays free.

Jane Addams' Hull-House Museum
800 S. Halsted
312-413-5353
Free.

International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 North Lake Shore Drive
312-642-6502
Tuesdays free.

Intuit: The Center for Outsider and Intuitive Art
756 North Milwaukee Avenue
312-243-9088
Free.

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
1852 West 19th Street
312-738-1503
Free.

Museum of Broadcast Communications
Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington
312-629-6000
Free.

Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue
312-280-2660
Admission is free on Tuesdays.

Museum of Contemporary Photography
Columbia College Chicago
600 South Michigan Avenue
312-663-5554
Free.

Museum of Science and Industry
57th and Lake Shore Drive
773-684-1414
Thursdays free.

National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum
1801 South Indiana Avenue
773-326-0270
Free.

Newberry Library
60 West Walton
312-943-9090
Free.

Oriental Institute Museum
1155 East 58th Street
312-702-9521
Free.

Peace Museum
314 West Institute Place
312-440-1860
Wednesdays Free.

Polish Museum of America
984 North Milwaukee Avenue
312-384-3352
Free

Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Cobb Hall, 5811 South Ellis Avenue, 4th floor
773-702-8670
Free.

Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive
312-939-2439
From the Shedd's site:
Take advantage of Shedd’s DISCOUNT DAYS. Visit June 8-13 and Mondays and Tuesdays October through February, and Chicago residents will pay just $9 for adults ($13 for non-residents), $6 for Chicago seniors and children ages 3-11 ($9 for non-residents) to see the entire aquarium, Oceanarium and our newest exhibit, Wild Reef. Or visit the aquarium's main building — including Amazon Rising, the Caribbean Reef and other favorite exhibits — for FREE. Two great choices — two great deals on Mondays and Tuesdays!

Smart Museum of Art
University of Chicago
5550 South Greenwood Avenue
773-702-0200
Free.

Spertus Museum
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies
618 South Michigan Avenue
312-322-1747
Fridays free.

Terra Museum of American Art
666 North Michigan Avenue
312-664-3939
"In celebration of Terra Museum's 15 years on Michigan Avenue, admission is FREE. Suggested donation of $5 per adult is welcome."

Harold Washington Library Center
400 South State Street
312-747-4876
Free.

Vietnam War Museum
954 West Carmen Avenue
773-728-6111
Free Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.


If you know of a good museum that I am missing, please email me at dennis@dennisobrien.net .

Day by day listing of Chicago's free museums

Back to Chicago's Free, Cheap, Late, Easy and Greasy

This list was compiled by Dennis O'Brien. He doesn't go to enough museums.