Soak up the remainder of summer with these free museum days in Chicago

Photo courtesy of Shedd Aquarium

August is here and with it comes free museum days in Chicago to help make the last few weeks of summer memorable. Here are all the free museum days to take advantage of next month! 

Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium offers free admission every Tuesday evening from 5 - 9 p.m. this August. Come cool off and spend some time with your favorite aquatic friends this summer including cuddly penguins, exotic sharks, and majestic belugas.

Free admission is available to all Illinois residents. Advanced registration is recommended due to high ticket demand. 

Field Museum 

The Field Museum welcomes Illinois Residents for free admission every Wednesday. On free days, visitors can take in all of the museum's basic exhibits. Embark on a safari, explore ancient civilizations, or spend some time with Sue the Dinosaur this August. 

The Art Institute of Chicago

Admission to the Art Institute is free for Illinois residents every Thursday this summer from 5 - 8 p.m.  Visitors can view ancient artifacts, medieval triptychs, modern sculptures, and so much more, free of charge. Interested parties can reserve tickets in advance online.

Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden is offering free admission on August 6 and 8 for Illinois residents, Located just 30 minutes outside the city on the north shore, the botanic gardens feature 375 acres of lush, landscaped gardens and an array of breathtaking plant life.

A visit to the gardens is the perfect way to spend time in nature before the summer temperatures are gone. Pre-registration for the gardens is available online.

Chicago History Museum

 The Chicago History Museum will host a free day on August 28 for Illinois Residents. This season at the museum, visitors can learn about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, view a collection of protest art from the 1960s and 1970s, and watch The Great Chicago Adventure, a special film exploring the city's greatest historical moments. 

Museum of Contemporary Art

Admission to the MCA is free for all Illinois residents on Tuesdays, and this August is no exception. Right now visitors can view limited-time exhibitions featuring the works of Do Ho Suh, Arthur Jafa, and Nicole Eisenman. Admission to the MCA is always free for persons under 18.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.