Free Chicago Museum Days

Free Museum days for Illinois residents to Chicago museums is a great perk.  Chicago has some world renown museums and visiting the museums on free days is helpful on the wallet.  

The 2023 free museum dates have been announced by most museums and here is the list for Adler Planetarium, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago History Museum, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, and others.

Adler Planetarium

Adler Planetarium has free museum days for Illinois residents:

• Every Wednesday evening from 4 – 10 p.m.

All tickets must be reserved online and in advance.

Art Institute of Chicago

Offers free admission days for Illinois residents during particular days of the year.

Free museum days in 2023 for Illinois residents at the Art Institute of Chicago are:

• Weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays) from Jan. 9 – March 24, 2023

Free admission tickets for Illinois residents must be reserved online in advance.

Note:  The Art Institute is always free for Chicago teens under the age of 18, all children under age 14, Link and WIC cardholders, active-duty military, and Illinois educators.

Chicago History Museum

Free admission on select holidays and dates throughout the year are available to Illinois residents.

The announced dates for Illinois residents to receive free admission are on the following days in 2023:

• January: 16 – 20, 24 – 27, 31
• February:  1 – 3, 7 – 10, 14 – 17, 20 – 24, 28
• Holidays:
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 16)
• Presidents’ Day (Feb. 20)
• Fourth of July (July 4)

Note:  Always free for active duty military and veterans, active duty Chicago police and firefighters, Illinois teachers, Illinois residents under age 18, and all children under 12.

Field Museum

Offers free basic admission, plus discounted passes to explore a ticketed exhibition or enjoy a 3D movie, for Illinois residents on select dates throughout the year.

Free museum days at the Field Museum in 2023:

• January:   10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31
• February:   1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20
• March:  7, 14

Tickets for free days are only available onsite.  Free tickets include all general admission exhibitions, such as Evolving Planet, The Ancient Americas, and Inside Ancient Egypt.

Museum of Science and Industry

Offers free admission for Illinois residents on select dates throughout the year.

Here are the free admission days announced for the Museum of Science and Industry for 2023:

• January  9–11, 16–18, 23–25, 30–31
• February 1–2, 6–9, 13–14, 16, 21
• March 1, 6, 14 
• April 18, 22
• May 4, 9, 17–18
• June 1, 6–7
• August 22, 28–29
• September 5–6, 11–12, 15, 18–20, 26
• October 4–5, 9, 16–17
• November 1, 8

Note:  The Museum is always free for United States military active-duty personnel and veterans, Illinois POWs, Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers and Illinois teachers (Pre-K through 12th grade).

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Offering suggested donation admission on the following days in 2023 where Illinois Residents can enjoy free admission during these Suggested Donation Days,:

• January: 5, 12, 19, 26

Note:  Always free for active-duty service members with ID and their families, Illinois teachers, and children under three.

Shedd Aquarium

Illinois residents receive free access to all permanent exhibits, including special exhibits Underwater Beauty and seasonal Stingray Touch, on select dates throughout the year.

Free museum days for Illinois residents at the Shedd Aquarium in 2023:

• January:   12, 13, 14, 15, and 16
• February:   7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, and 28

Note:  Advance reservations are required; no tickets will be available onsite.  All adults must provide proof of residency in-person when redeeming tickets at the discounted rate.

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