This one's a keeper...

Chicago's home to some of the finest museums in the world, but unfortunately they can be a little pricey. Fortunately, they offer free days throughout the year. While general admission is free on those days, special exhibitions usually require a paid ticket.

The Museum of Science & Industry is free from today through the end of January. Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium are free next week, and the Field Museum offers a variety of days. Below are the dates for 2009 for those and also for some of the niche museums that provide such an incredible depth and breadth of learning, history, research, and FUN.

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Adler Planetarium:

Chicago Children's Museum:

1st Sunday of every month free admission for children 15 and under

Free Thursdays 5 to 8pm for everyone

Chicago History Museum:
Free every Monday

Field Museum:

• 2nd Monday of every month, plus
  January: 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
  February: 1 - 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
  September: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30
  October: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15
  November: 11, 12, 18, 19
  December: 2, 3, 9, 10

International Museum of Surgical Science:

Free on Tuesdays

Jane Addam's Hull House Museum:
Always Free

Loyola University Museum of Art:

Free on Tuesdays

McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum:

Always Free

Museum of Contemporary Art:
Free on Tuesdays

Museum of Contemporary Photography:

Always Free

Museum of Science & Industry:

• January 5 - 31
• June 1 - 5, 19
• October 8, 9, 12 - 16, 19 - 23, 26 - 30
• November 26
• December 24

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum:
Free on Thursdays (donations suggested)

Shedd Aquarium:

January 10 - 16, 19, 20, 26, 27

Remaining dates not announced yet

Spertus Museum:

Free on Wednesdays from 10am to Noon
Free on Thursdays from 2 to 6pm