Free Museums, Art Exhibitions, and More (Part Three)
Yes, Chicago has even more to offer!
In my first article, I focused on the museums that have 2015 Illinois Resident Discount Days. My second article highlighted some of Chicago’s places that always have free admission. Now I will shine the spotlight on places that offer free admission periodically throughout the year (usually weekly or monthly).
These Places Offer Free Admission Periodically Throughout the Year
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
From Monday, January 5, through Tuesday, February 10, museum admission is free to Illinois residents every weekday–all day.
General admission is free to Illinois residents every Thursday (closed on Thanksgiving) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Charnley-Persky House Museum, 1365 North Astor Street, Chicago
Tours are free on Wednesdays at 12 noon and are approximately 60 minutes. Tours are limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-served basis (arrive early!).
Chicago Children’s Museum, Navy Pier, 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission is free for visitors 15 and under on the first Sunday of every month.
Clarke House Museum, 1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago
Glessner House Museum, 1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago
Tours are free on Wednesdays. Clarke House tours begin at 12 noon and 2 p.m. and Glessner House tours begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours begin at the Visitor’s Center at the Glessner House Museum and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours fill quickly, so arrive early!
DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 East 56th Place, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays.
International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays.
Loyola University Museum of Art, 820 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays. Free guided tours are given at 12 noon and 2 p.m.
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, 376 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays. This museum is open seasonally (May to October).
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Free admission is given to Illinois residents on Tuesdays. Free guided tours begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tours meet in the lobby on the second floor and last 30 to 45 minutes. Spanish tours are given at 6 p.m. every second Tuesday.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago
Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents.
Swedish American Museum, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month.
Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago
Free guided tours begin at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of every month. These tours offer the public an opportunity to enjoy highlights from the club’s art collection. Reservations are required.
This admission option is one of my favorites. Knowing that a museum is open a specific day every week makes planning easy. With the free admission, I find it's possible to go to museums multiple times each year. Being able to visit Loyola University Museum of Art and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago each time a new exhibition opens is amazing!
Bonus! Here are a few additional museums to consider. While free admission is not available to the general public, if you’re interested in the subject matter or want to learn more about a particular culture, these places might be just what you’re looking for!
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 South Pulaski Road, Chicago
Bronzeville Children’s Museum, 9301 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago
Cambodian American Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial, 2831 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago
Driehaus Museum, 40 East Erie Street, Chicago
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, 756 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
Latvian Folk Art Museum, 4146 North Elston Avenue, Chicago
Museum of Broadcast Communications, 360 North State Street, Chicago
National Hellenic Museum, 333 South Halsted Street, Chicago
National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, 1431 West Taylor Street, Chicago
The Polish Museum of America, 984 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 104 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Please visit each website for the most up-to-date information when planning for your visit.
Enjoy!
In my first article, I focused on the museums that have 2015 Illinois Resident Discount Days. My second article highlighted some of Chicago’s places that always have free admission. Now I will shine the spotlight on places that offer free admission periodically throughout the year (usually weekly or monthly).
These Places Offer Free Admission Periodically Throughout the Year
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
From Monday, January 5, through Tuesday, February 10, museum admission is free to Illinois residents every weekday–all day.
General admission is free to Illinois residents every Thursday (closed on Thanksgiving) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Charnley-Persky House Museum, 1365 North Astor Street, Chicago
Tours are free on Wednesdays at 12 noon and are approximately 60 minutes. Tours are limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-served basis (arrive early!).
Chicago Children’s Museum, Navy Pier, 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission is free for visitors 15 and under on the first Sunday of every month.
Clarke House Museum, 1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago
Glessner House Museum, 1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago
Tours are free on Wednesdays. Clarke House tours begin at 12 noon and 2 p.m. and Glessner House tours begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours begin at the Visitor’s Center at the Glessner House Museum and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours fill quickly, so arrive early!
DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 East 56th Place, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays.
International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays.
Loyola University Museum of Art, 820 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Tuesdays. Free guided tours are given at 12 noon and 2 p.m.
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, 376 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Admission is free on Sundays. This museum is open seasonally (May to October).
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Free admission is given to Illinois residents on Tuesdays. Free guided tours begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tours meet in the lobby on the second floor and last 30 to 45 minutes. Spanish tours are given at 6 p.m. every second Tuesday.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago
Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents.
Swedish American Museum, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month.
Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago
Free guided tours begin at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of every month. These tours offer the public an opportunity to enjoy highlights from the club’s art collection. Reservations are required.
This admission option is one of my favorites. Knowing that a museum is open a specific day every week makes planning easy. With the free admission, I find it's possible to go to museums multiple times each year. Being able to visit Loyola University Museum of Art and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago each time a new exhibition opens is amazing!
Bonus! Here are a few additional museums to consider. While free admission is not available to the general public, if you’re interested in the subject matter or want to learn more about a particular culture, these places might be just what you’re looking for!
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 South Pulaski Road, Chicago
Bronzeville Children’s Museum, 9301 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago
Cambodian American Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial, 2831 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago
Driehaus Museum, 40 East Erie Street, Chicago
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, 756 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
Latvian Folk Art Museum, 4146 North Elston Avenue, Chicago
Museum of Broadcast Communications, 360 North State Street, Chicago
National Hellenic Museum, 333 South Halsted Street, Chicago
National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, 1431 West Taylor Street, Chicago
The Polish Museum of America, 984 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 104 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Please visit each website for the most up-to-date information when planning for your visit.
Enjoy!