In Chicago, you really have no excuse for not embracing everything the city has to offer.

No budget? No fear. Free museum days are here. Mark these days on your calendar for your chance to enjoy Chicago's museums and galleries care and cost-free.









Photo via Facebook/Adler Planetarium

1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. - South Loop/Museum Campus

General admission is free to Illinois residents on the following dates in 2020:

January 7-9, 20-22

February 4-6, 11-13, 17-20

March 9-12

April 20-23

May 10-16

June 2, 9, 16

August 22-23, 31

September 1-4

October 12-15

November 11, 17-19

December 4-6

111 S. Michigan Ave. - Loop

Chicago residents under the age of 18 can get into this museum for free any time. Children age 14 years and younger are always free.

Illinois residents of any age can also enjoy free admission year-round on Wednesdays from 5-8 p.m.

1000 Lake Cook Rd. - Glencoe, IL

Admission is always free! Check the garden's website for seasonal hours.

700 E. Grand Ave. - Downtown/Navy Pier

Admission is free for kids 15 and under all day on the first Sunday of every month.

1601 N. Clark St. - Lincoln Park

Children under 12 years old and Illinois residents under 18 years old are always free. Illinois residents of all ages are offered free admission every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Commemorative Days: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, March 4 and July 4. (Excludes December 17, December 24 and December 31.)

935 W. Fullerton Ave. - Lincoln Park

Admission is always free at the university's on-campus art museum!

740 E. 56th Pl. - Washington Park

Free admission every Tuesday, all year long. Children under 5 always get in free.

Photo via Facebook/Field Museum

1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. - South Loop/Museum Campus

Illinois residents can spend a day at The Field Museum with complimentary admission on the following free days in 2020:

January 8, 15, 20, 22, 29

February 1-29









218 W. 26th St. - Chinatown





Heritage Museum of Asian Art is free and open to the public. Donate to the museum to help keep its admission free to everyone!





1524 N. Lake Shore Dr. - Lincoln Park

Admission is waived at the IMSS on the following days this year:

January 13-17, 20-24

February 3-7, 10-13, 17-21

November 30

December 1-4, 7-11, 14-18

6418 N. Greenview Ave. - Rogers Park

Admission is free every Thursday for those who are 18+.

Photo via Facebook/Lincoln Park Zoo





2001 N. Clark St. - Lincoln Park

Offers free admission 365 days a year.

820 Michigan Ave. - Streeterville

Free to the public every Tuesday.

Photo via Facebook/Museum Of Contemporary Art





220 E. Chicago Ave. - Streeterville

Illinois residents can skip the admission fees every Tuesday, year-round.

600 S. Michigan Ave. - Loop

Free daily, but is closed when Columbia College is closed.

5700 S. Lake Shore Dr. - Hyde Park

Illinois residents will receive free admission to the museum on the following days in 2020:



January 6-9, 13-16, 20-23, 27-30

February 3-6, 10-13, 18-20, 24-27





1852 W. 19th St. - Pilsen

Free admission daily, all year long.

4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Portage Park

Free daily.

1155 E. 58th St. - Hyde Park

Admission is free but there is a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children.

2430 N. Cannon Dr. - Lincoln Park

Thursdays are free for Illinois residents but they are encouraged to make a donation upon entry.

1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. - South Loop/Museum Campus

Free admission for Illinois residents offered on the following days:

January 16-20, 2020

February 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28, 2020

June 15, 16, 22, 23, 2020

August 24, 25, 2020

September 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 2020

October 5, 6, 7, 2020





5211 N. Clark St. - Andersonville

Free admission offered on the second Tuesday of every month.

3015 W. Division St. - Humboldt Park

Admission and parking are free year-round at this Humbolt Park cultural hub.

Photo via Facebook/Chicago Cultural Center

78 E. Washington St. - Loop

Admission is always free here. Plus, you can enjoy free building tours!

Photo via Facebook/American Toby Jug Museum

910 Chicago Ave. - Evanston

Admission is free at this quirky museum! Free lectures from museum founder Steve Mullins and other experts are also offered. Call for more information.

1827 S. Indiana Ave. - South Loop

Admission is always free at this museum which gives a glimpse into pre-Civil War life in Chicago.

Photo via Facebook/Glessner House Museum

1800 S. Prairie Ave. - South Loop

Admission is free to all on Wednesdays at this architectural and historic local highlight. There is never a charge for children under 5 years old.

40 Arts Circle Dr. - Evanston

Northwestern University's art museum offers free admission and parking daily.









Photo via Facebook/Design Museum of Chicago





108 N. State St. - The Loop





This museum and gallery inside Block 37 is always free and open to the public.









104 S. Michigan Ave. - The Loop





Museum admission is always free for anyone with an active military ID, the Chicago police and fire departments and children under 18. General free admission days for 2020 are:





April 6 – Centennial of WWI

May 9 – Birthday of the Illinois National Guard

May 23 – Saturday before Memorial Day (in conjunction with Chicago’s observance of Memorial day)

May 25 - Memorial Day

June 14 – Birthday of the United States Army

July 4 — Independence Day

August 4 – Birthday of the United States Coast Guard

September 11- Anniversary of 9/11

September 18 – Birthday of the United States Air Force

October 13 – Birthday of the United States Navy

November 10 – Birthday of the United States Marine Corps

November 11 – Veteran’s Day

December 7 – Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor

December 13 – Birthday of the National Guard













3407 W. Armitage Ave. - Logan Square





Busy Beaver Button Company's adjacent museum is free and open to the public. They also accept button donations!