Illinois Residents with valid IDs are able to experience several of Chicago’s well-loved museums for FREE on certain days in 2025. It’s recommended to reserve tickets in advance to ensure entrance on the day you plan to visit the museum.
Museum For All
Museums For All is a program that provides Link and/or WIC card holders free or reduced admission to 1,400 museums throughout the United States. This program is offered by the Institute of Museums and Library Service.
Visit museums4all.org to see which museums near you offer free or reduced admission. Your Link or WIC card will need to be presented for verification at the museum.
Free Museum Days in Chicago
| Museum | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Art Institute of Chicago | 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 | Free every Monday, Thursday, and Friday that falls on January 6th through March 14, 2025. Also free on Wednesdays March 5 and March 12, 2025. |
| Adler Planetarium | 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 | Free every Wednesday from 4:00-10:00. |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022 | Free on February 17; March 17-20; April 7-11; May 6 and 8. |
| Chicago History Museum | 1601 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 | Free on February 2025: 11-14, 17-21, and 25-28. |
| DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center | 740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637 | Free every Wednesday from 9:00-5:00. |
| Field Museum | 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 | Free every Wednesday from 9:00-5:00. |
| Griffin Museum of Science + Industry | 740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637 | Free every Wednesday from 9:00-5:00. |
| Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center | 9603 Woods Dr, Skokie, IL 60077 | Free every on the last Friday of every month 10:00-5:00. |
| Museum of Contemporary Art | 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 | Free every Tuesday 10:00-9:00. |
| Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614 | Free every Thursday 10:00-4:00. |
| Shedd Aquarium | 1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 | Free days on February: 11-13, 18-20, 25-27. Free nights (5:00-9:00) on March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20, 27. **Reserve tickets by phone at (312) 939-2438 with no convenience fee OR reserve online with a $5 convenience fee** |
| Swedish American Museum | 5211 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640 | Free the second Tuesday of every month 10:00-3:00. |
FREE Museums All Year Long
The following museums and cultural centers offer free admission throughout the year:
- Chicago Cultural Center: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
- Hyde Park Art Center: 5020 S Cornell Ave, Chicago, IL 60615
- Jane Addams Hull-House Museum: 800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607
- Loyola University Museum of Art: 820 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
- Mindworks: The Science of Thinking: 224 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604
- Museum of Contemporary Photography: 600 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
- National Cambodian Heritage Museum: 2831 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
- National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608
- National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture: 3015 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
- National Veterans Art Museum: 041 N Milwaukee Ave 2nd floor, Chicago, IL 60641
- Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago: 5811 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
- Smart Museum of Art: 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
- 21C Museum Hotel Chicago: 55 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611
Explore Beyond Chicagoland
Don't forget about the Museum Adventure Pass & Explore More Illinois Program, available to you with your library card! Unlock discounts to over 100 attractions across Chicagoland.