Museums celebrate city reopening with extended hours

Several Chicago area museums will offer extended hours the evening of Friday, June 11, as the city enters Phase 5, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and museum leaders announced Wednesday.

Chicago will become the largest U.S. city to fully reopen thanks to residents' adherence to wearing masks, getting vaccinated and following health and safety guidelines, as well as the contributions of frontline and essential workers, according to city officials.

"One of the best ways we can celebrate our city's reopening is by spending time at our renowned museums, which have undergone so many challenges over the course of this past year," Lightfoot said in the news release. "That's why I am thrilled that so many of our most iconic museums will be opening their doors until late this Friday night to give residents and visitors a head start on returning to a sense of normalcy."

Participating museums include the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, which will remain open until 9 p.m. June 11, as well as the DuSable Museum, Museum of Science and Industry and National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, which will be open until 10 p.m.