Free Illinois museum days
Check out the Thriftista calendar (top left) for more free museum and cultural events.
Free museum days for Illinois museums:
Chicago Children’s Museum – Free admission for kids 15 and under. First Sunday of every month, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Free admission all day for ages 15 and under
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago – Free every Tuesday for IL residents
Art Institute of Chicago – Illinois residents receive free museum admission every weekday—all daylong—January 7–February 15 and February 19 –20, 2019. Also check out the Art Institute post.)
The Field Museum – Free daily in February for IL residents.
National Museum of Mexican Art – Free Admission every day
Free admission every day during museum hours, 10 a.m – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday
Millennium Park Family Fun Festival – Look for free events, such as a free festival of music, skating rink, performances and family activities for all ages in the Millennium Park Family Fun Activity Tent, and on the Pritzker Pavilion stage.
Smart Museum of Art – Admission is free. Part of the University of Chicago, this museum is located on the Hyde Park campus at 5550 S. Greenwood Ave.
Museum of Contemporary Photography – Part of the Columbia College Chicago, this museum is exclusively devoted to photography and is—of course—free! If you are in the Loop, it is at 600 S. Michigan.
Money Museum – Part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. This is where we admit that, being Thriftistas, we are interested in money (or saving it)! Reserve a spot on their daily 1 pm tour, at 230 S. LaSalle St.
