Check out some of the best museums in Chicago on the 6th annual Free Museum Day — September 25 — This is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian Media in which participating museums across the country open their doors for free to anyone presenting a free Museum Day Ticket. But remember, to get in, you must have a free Museum Day Ticket and you and a guest will get free general admission to hundreds of museums and cultural spots around the country.
The free Museum Day Ticket provides free admission to one person, plus a guest. Check out their Featured Museums page, or search by state, address or on a Google map.
- One ticket per household
- A ticket will gain entry in only one museum and only participating museums
- Only an official Museum Day ticket is eligible for free entry.
- Official tickets can be found here on the Museum Day website.
Click here to receive your free Museum Day Ticket — you need to complete an online form and your free ticket(s) will be emailed to you after you submit your information. Please remember to print and bring your ticket to your selected participating museum.
The participating museums in Chicago and the surrounding areas include:
Adler Planetarium – Chicago
Aurora Regional Fire Museum – Aurora
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture – Chicago
Clarke House Museum – Chicago
DuPage County Historical Museum – Wheaton
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio – Oak Park
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House – Chicago
Glessner House Museum – Chicago
Graue Mill and Museum – Oak Brook
Hinsdale History Museum – Hinsdale
Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery – Chicago
International Museum of Surgical Science – Chicago
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art – Chicago
Joliet Area Historical Museum – Joliet
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden – Rockford
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art – Elmhurst
Mayslake Peabody Estate – Oak Brook
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian – Evanston
Museum of Contemporary Art – Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Photography – Chicago
National Hellenic Museum – Chicago
Smart Museum of Art – Chicago
Swedish American Museum – Chicago
Willowbrook Wildlife Center – Glen Ellyn
