Downtown Chicago Museums

"I love The Local Tourist and recommend it often!" M. Sullivan, Friends of the Parks, Chicago

Chicago museums showcase an incredible depth and breadth of examples of life on earth (and above), and a trip to downtown Chicago wouldn't be complete without a visit to these world-renowned museums.

If you're a resident, many Chicago museums reward you with reduced admission. Chicago Public Library members can even get in free by checking out a Kraft Great Kids Museum Passport.

Museums

ADLER PLANETARIUM
1300 S LAKE SHORE DR
(312)922-STAR
Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30am to 4:30pm
Sat & Sun 9am to 4:30pm
Admission: Adults $7, Chicago residents $5, Children $5, Chicago children $4
Seniors: $6, Chicago residents: $4
Galaxy Package (Admission +1 show & audio tour): Adults $16, Chicago residents $14, Children $14, Chicago children $13
Seniors: $15, Chicago residents: $13
Universe Package (Admission +2 shows & audio tour): Adults $20, Chicago residents $18, Children $18, Chicago children $17, Seniors: $19, Chicago seniors: $17
Audio Tour: $3
2008 Discount Days: January 12-18, February 18-22, June 15-20, October 6-9
Mondays & Tuesdays in January, February, September, October & November

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
Collections dating from 3000BC
111 S MICHIGAN AVE
(312)443-3600
Hours: Mon - Wed, Fri 10:30am to 5pm
Thurs 10:30am to 8pm, Sat & Sun 10am to 5pm
Admission: Adults $12, Seniors, Children & Students $7
Pay any amount, but you must pay something!
Free on Thursday evenings, 5:30 to 9pm through Labor Day, to 8pm year round

BRIDGEHOUSE & CHICAGO RIVER MUSEUM
376 N MICHIGAN AVE
(312)977-0227
Thurs - Mon 10am to 5pm, $3
Opens in May

CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
224 S MICHIGAN AVE
CHICAGO, IL  60604
(312)922-TOUR
Fax: (312)922-0481

CHICAGO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
700 E GRAND AVE - at Navy Pier
CHICAGO, IL  60611
(312)527-1000
Fax: (312)527-9082
Hours: Sun - Wed & Fri, 10am to 5pm; Thurs & Sat 10am to 8pm
Admission: $9, $8 Seniors
Free admission Thursdays 5 to 8pm

CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER
78 E Washington
(312)F-I-N-E-A-R-T
Hours: Mon - Wed 10am to 7pm
Thurs 10am to 9pm
Fri 10am to 6pm
Sat 10am to 5pm
Sun 11am to 5pm

CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM - Formerly Chicago Historical Society
CLARK ST AT NORTH AVE
CHICAGO, IL  60614
(312)642-4600
Fax: (312)266-8377
Chicago@40: The Band and its City, Dec 4 - Mar 30
Big Picture, A New View of Painting in Chicago: Through Aug 3, 2008
Catholic Chicago: Mar 8, 2008 - Jan 4, 2009
Chic Chicago: Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum: Sep 27, 2008- Mar 29, 2009

CITYPASS
Purchase tickets to 6 attractions for discounted rate
Use w/in 9 days
Adler Planetarium, Art Institute, Field Museum, Hancock Observatory, Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK MONEY MUSEUM
230 S LASALLE ST
Hours: Mon - Fri 9am to 4pm, except for bank holidays
Admission: Free
Must bring photo ID
Tours available at 1pm daily or by appointment for large groups. Tour includes video and Q&A

FIELD MUSEUM
1400 S LAKESHORE DR
(312)922-9410
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Last admission at 4pm
Admission: Adults $12, Children 4-11, Seniors & Students w/ ID $7
Chicago Admission: Adults $10, Children 4-11, Seniors & Students w/ ID $6
2008 Discount Days: January 12-18, June 15-20, October 6-9
Mondays & Tuesdays in January, February, September, October & November
Discounted price: Adults $7, Children 4-11 $4, Seniors & Students w/ ID $7
FREE IN FEBRUARY

GO CHICAGO CARD
Unlimited sightseeing at the best Chicago attractions and tours
One low price includes free admission to museums, historic sites, excursions and much more. Free 100+ page full color pocket guidebook and savings of up to 20% on shopping and dining throughout the city.

HELLENIC MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER
801 W ADAMS, 4th FLOOR
(312)655-1234
Hours: Tues - Fri 10am to 4pm, Sat 11am to 4pm
Admission: $4
Greek folk art, research library

INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF SURGICAL SCIENCE
1524 N LAKE SHORE DRIVE
(312)642-6502
Hours: May through Sept Tues - Sun 10am to 4pm
Oct through Apr Tues - Sat 10am to 4pm
Admission: $8, $4 students, seniors
Free Tuesdays (donations invited)
4,000 years of surgical history

JANE ADDAMS HULL HOUSE MUSEUM
800 S HALSTED
(312)413-5353
Hours: Tues - Fri 10am to 4pm, Sun Noon to 5pm

LUMA - LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF ART
820 N MICHIGAN AVE
(312)915-7600
Hours: Closed Monday, Tues 10am to 8pm, Wed - Sun 10am to 5pm
Guided Tours: Noon & 2pm
Admission: $6, $5 seniors, free to children under 14, students, military dependents and Loyola employees, Free on Tuesdays

MCCORMICK TRIBUNE FREEDOM MUSEUM - REVIEW
445 N MICHIGAN AVE
(312)222-4860
Hours: Closed Tuesday, Wed - Mon 10am to 6pm
Admission: $5

MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS
The museum is closed as it moves to its new location at State and Kinzie.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
220 E CHICAGO AVE
(312)280-2660
Hours: Tues 10am to 8pm
Wed - Sun 10am to 5pm
Admission: Adults $10, Seniors, Students and Military w/ ID, $6, Children 12 and under Free
Free admission on Tuesdays

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY
600 S MICHIGAN AVE (COLUMBIA COLLEGE)
(312)663-5554
Hours: Mon - Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun Noon to 5pm
Admission: Free

MUSEUM OF HOLOGRAPHY
1134 W WASHINGTON ST
(312)226-1007
Hours: Wed - Sun 12:30 to 5pm

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
5700 S LAKE SHORE DR
(773)684-1414
Hours: Mon - Sat 9:30am to 4pm, Sun 11am to 4pm
Admission: Adults $11, Children 3-11 $7, Seniors $9:50
Chicago Admission: Adults $10, Children 4-11 $6.25, Seniors $8.75
Special exhibits extra
2008 Free Days: Jan 12 - 31; Feb 29; June 17 - 22; Sept 2 - 5, 8 - 12, 15 - 19, 22 - 26, 29, 30; Oct 31; Nov 27; Dec 24, 31

NEWBERRY LIBRARY
60 W WALTON ST
(312)255-3700
Gallery Hours: Mon, Fri, Sat 8:15am to 5:30pm, Tues - Thurs 8:15am to 7:30pm
Reading Rooms: Tues - Thurs 10am to 6pm, Fri & Sat 9am to 5pm
Tours at 3pm Thurs and 10:30am Sat
Admission: Free to 16 and over
Nov 3 - Feb 16: Ptolemy’s Geography and Renaissance Mapmakers

THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE
1155 E 58TH ST
(773)702-9520
Hours: Tues, Thurs - Sat 10am to 6pm, Wed 10am to 8:30pm, Sun Noon to 6pm
Admission: Suggested donation of $5 adults, $2 children under 12

PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM
2430 N CANNON DR
(773)755-5100
Hours: Mon - Fri 9am to 4:30pm, Sat & Sun 10am to 5pm
Admission: $7; Seniors over 60 and students 13 to 22, $5; Children 3 to 12, $4
Chicago residents receive $1 off admission, Thursdays free

THE POLISH MUSEUM OF AMERICA
984 N MILWAUKEE AVE
CHICAGO, IL  60622
(773)384-3352
Fax: (773)384-3799
Hours: Mon - Wed, Fri - Sun 11am to 4pm, Closed Thursday

SHEDD AQUARIUM
1200 S LAKESHORE DR
(312)939-2438
Hours: Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm
Sat & Sun 9am to 6pm
Aquarium Only: Adults $8, Seniors & Children $6
Mini Pass: Adults $18, Seniors & Children $14
Day Pass: Adults $23, Seniors & Children $16
Premium Day Pass: Adults $27.50, Seniors & Children $20.50
Show proof of residency in Chicago, library card etc, receive reduced admission
2008 Free Days (Oceanarium & Wild Reef extra): January 12-18, February 18-22, June 15-20, October 6-9
Mondays & Tuesdays in January, February, September, October & November

SMITH MUSEUM OF STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
NAVY PIER, FESTIVAL HALL
600 E GRAND AVE
(312)595-5024
Hours: Navy Pier operating hours
Admission: Free
World's only stained glass museum

SPERTUS MUSEUM
610 S MICHIGAN AVE
(312)322-1747
Hours: Sun - Wed 10am to 6pm, Thurs 10am to 7pm (10am to 5pm Jan - Feb), Fri 10am to 3pm
Admission: $7, $5 kids, students, seniors, kids under 5 free,
Free admission Tues 10am to Noon, Thurs 3 to 7pm
Jews and Jewish Culture

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