2016 Chicago Museum DISCOUNT Admissions
** Looking for 2017’s FREE Chicago Museum list? Click HERE!! **
Can’t make it to Free Chicago Museums Days this year?
That’s ok you may still be eligible for Chicago Museum Discount Admissions. Take a look at the special deals these Chicago area museums offer to Chicago residents, educators, military personnel, firefighters, police, seniors, students, and children all year long.
Make sure to check any museum website before your visit for changes in discount rates, to familiarize yourself with parking fees, and to make sure you have the appropriate identification with you to qualify for special discounts.
Chicago Residents
Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60605 | 312-922-7827
Discounts on all admission packages.
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603 | 312-443-3600
$5 discount for adults
$11 discount for seniors
$11 discount for students 14 and up
Kids Museum Passport
Residents with a Chicago Public Library card can check out a pass for up to four free general admissions to the Art Institute. Some restrictions apply – see website for more details.
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637 | 773-947-0600
$2 discount for adults
$5 discount for students
$5 discount for seniors
$1 discount for children age 6-11
FREE for children under 5
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 | 312-922-9410
Chicago residents can save $5 or more on the price of their ticket.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
$3 discount on admission every day, except Illinois resident free days.
Great Kids Museum Passports
Some Chicago Public Library branches offer Great Kids Museum Passports that may be checked out for two free adult and two free child general admissions.
Educators
Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60605 | 312-922-7827
Free general admission for ILLINOIS teachers (pre-k – 12).
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603 | 312-443-3600
Free admission to ILLINOIS educators, including Pre-k-12 teachers, teaching artists working in schools, pre-service teachers, and homeschool parents (registration required see website for more details).
Charnley Persky House
1365 N. Astor Street, Chicago, IL 60610 | 312-573-1365
ILLINOIS teachers admitted free with ID for the Saturday tour.
Chicago Children’s Museum
Navy Pier | 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-527-1000
ONE free admission (from 1PM through close) for educators, museum professionals, and student visitors unaccompanied by a child visitor.
ONE $5 discounted admission for teachers.
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 | 312-922-9410
Free basic admission for ILLINOIS teachers (pre-K through 12).
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
3001 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201 | 847-475-1030
$2 discount for teachers.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Educators from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin may receive ONE complimentary Shedd Pass. Online registration is required – see website for more details.
Educators outside of this four-state area may receive $3 off the price of general admission.
Firefighters/Police
Chicago Children’s Museum
Navy Pier | 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-527-1000
ONE free admission for police officers & firefighters year-round.
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-280-2660
Free to members of the police and fire departments.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
CHICAGO police and firefighters may receive a free Shedd Pass.
Military Personnel
Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60605 | 312-922-7827
Free general admission.
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603 | 312-443-3600
Active-duty military and their families receive free admission to the museum from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Brookfield Zoo
8400 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513 | 708-688-8000
Free admission to active, reservist, and retired members of the military.
Chicago Children’s Museum
Navy Pier | 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-527-1000
FREE to veterans and active military.
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637 | 773-947-0600
All military duty personnel, all branches receive free admission.
All active or non-active duty personnel/POW’s (Illinois Residents) receives free admission.
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 | 312-922-9410
Free basic admission for active Military Personnel.
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610 | 312-642-6502
$5 discount on admission.
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
220 South Cottage Hill Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126 | 630-833-1616
Free to active members of the Armed forces any day the museum is open to the public.
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-280-2660
Free to military and veterans.
Pritzker Military Museum & Library
104 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603 | 312-374-9333
Free to visitors with active military ID.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Active duty military personnel receive a free Shedd Pass.
Seniors
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603 | 312-443-3600
$6 off ANY senior 65 and older.
$9 off ILLINOIS seniors 65 and older.
Brookfield Zoo
8400 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513 | 708-688-8000
$5.35 discount on admission.
Charnley Persky House
1365 N. Astor Street, Chicago, IL 60610 | 312-573-1365
$2 discount admission for the Saturday tour.
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
$2 discount on admission.
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637 | 773-947-0600
$3 discount on admission.
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 | 312-922-9410
$3 discount on basic admission.
Glessner House Museum
1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616 | 312-326-1480
$3 discount on admission.
Illinois Holocaust Museum
9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL 60077 | 847-967-4800
$4 discount on admission.
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610 | 312-642-6502
$5 discount on admission.
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
220 South Cottage Hill Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126 | 630-833-1616
$1 discount on admission.
Loyola University Museum of Art
820 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-915-7600
$2 discount on admission.
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
376 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601 | 312-977-0227
$1 discount on admission.
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
3001 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201 | 847-475-1030
$2 discount on admission.
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-280-2660
$5 discount on admission.
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637 | 773-684-1414
$1 discount on basic admission.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 | 773-755-5100
$2 discount on admission.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
$3 discount on admission every day except Illinois resident free days.
Swedish American Museum
5211 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60601 | 773-728-8111
$1 discount on admission.
Students & Children
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603 | 312-443-3600
$6 off ANY student 14 and older.
$9 off ILLINOIS students 14 and older.
FREE for children under 14.
FREE admission to special exhibit Van Gogh’s bedroom is free for children under 14.
Brookfield Zoo
8400 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513 | 708-688-8000
$5.35 discount on admission (ages 3-11).
Charnley Persky House
1365 N. Astor Street, Chicago, IL 60610 | 312-573-1365
$2 discount admission for the Saturday tour (students age 18+).
$5 discount admission for the Saturday tour (youth ages 5-13).
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
Free for students age 12 and under.
$2 discount on admission for students age 13-22.
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637 | 773-947-0600
$7 discount for children ages 6-11.
Free for children under 5.
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 | 312-922-9410
$3 discount on basic admission for students.
$7 discount on basic admission for children ages 3-11.
Glessner House Museum
1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616 | 312-326-1480
$3 discount on student admission.
$7 discount for children ages 5-12.
Children under five are FREE.
Illinois Holocaust Museum
9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL 60077 | 847-967-4800
$4 discount for students age 12-22.
$6 discount for children age 5-11.
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610 | 312-642-6502
$5 discount on student admission.
$8 discount for children ages 4-13.
Free for children ages 3 and under.
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
220 South Cottage Hill Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126 | 630-833-1616
$2 discount for students and teens.
$3 discount for children 7-12.
Free for children under 7.
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
376 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601 | 312-977-0227
$1 discount on admission children 6-12 years old.
Children five and under FREE.
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
3001 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201 | 847-475-1030
$2 discount on admission children ages 3-17.
$2 discount on admission students with ID.
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-280-2660
$5 discount on admission.
Free for children 12 and under.
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637 | 773-684-1414
$7 discount on basic admission (ages 3-11).
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 | 773-755-5100
$2 discount on student admission.
$3 discount for children ages 3-12.
FREE for children under 3.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
$3 discount on admission every day except Illinois resident free days.
Swedish American Museum
5211 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60601 | 773-728-8111
$1 discount on admission.
Free for children under one-year old.
Cap at $10 per family.
Other
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603 | 312-443-3600
$3 discount for ILLINOIS residents
Chicago Children’s Museum
Navy Pier | 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-527-1000
The Chicago Children’s Museum offers special programming costs to low income families, research tours, and field trips. Visit their website for more information on the following programs:
- Museum for All Discount Admission
- Educator and Student Researcher Tours
- Target Family Free Night and Subsidized Transportation
- Discounted & Free Field Trips
- Scouts
- Play for All Events
- Parker Program
- Community Family Membership Program
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
Free to members of the Chicago History Museum, DuSable Museum, and National Museum of Mexican Art.
Know of additional Chicago area museum discounts?
Leave a comment below or contact me directly to be included in this family-friendly list!