Need an after school family pick-me-up? The Chicago Children’s Museum has free admission for Illinois residents on Thursday nights from 5-8pm so grab the kids and head down for some great family interactive fun! 
(In addition, on the “First Sunday” of the month, there is free admission for Illinois residents all day for ages 15 and under). The Museum’s mission is to create a community where play and learning connect, and the primary audience is children up through the fifth grade including their families, along with the school and community groups that support and influence children’s growth and development. CLICK AT BOTTOM FOR MORE INFORMATION
NOW OPEN: Michael’s Museum
Summon your inner child as you peek inside Michael’s Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures. This permanent exhibit fosters the art of collecting and features nearly 100 collections of tiny objects, including miniatures, trinkets, artifacts and curiosities donated by founder and curator Michael Horvich. Upon entering the exhibit, you’ll experience a cozy setting filled with wondrous collections of toys, jewelry, dollhouse furniture and more. Don’t forget to look for Michael’s favorite item—a little black and white wooden horse he carved as a child with his father to earn a Cub Scout patch.
Michael’s Museum offers vast opportunities for children’s cognitive, physical, linguistic, and social and emotional development. Children can ask questions and tell stories as they observe the objects, use magnifiers and rulers to gain new perspectives, sort and organize hundreds of tiny treasures, and act as “curators” of their own displays on open case shelves.
Chicago Children’s Museum is proud to partner with Kraft Foods to present Kraft Free Family Night, every Thursday evening from 5-8pm, when Illinois families can enjoy the entire museum free of charge. Each year, more than 55,000 participants are enriched by the cultural, interactive, and family-oriented programs offered during Kraft Free Family Night.
Fifteen permanent exhibits and programming spaces provide innovative learning experiences for children and their caregivers. The museum serves more than 500,000 visitors annually. CCM also reaches out beyond its walls by making a significant investment of resources in neighborhoods across Chicago, particularly to children who might not otherwise have access to the museum’s rich array of resources.
