This document lists various Chicago area museums and cultural institutions, and provides information on their free admission days in 2012 for Illinois residents and others. Many locations offer free admission at least one day a week or month, with additional free days throughout the year targeted at Illinois residents. Some highlights include the Art Institute offering free admission the first Wednesday of each month for Illinois residents, as well as various other museums participating in the 2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days program which provides free general admission.

1. Chicago Museum Free Days 2012
Adler Planetarium
(1300 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-7827, adlerplanetarium.org)
*2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days offer free general admission for Illinois residents with ID.
May: 1-2
June: 1, 4-8
Art Institute of Chicago*
(111 S Michigan Ave, 312-443-3600, artic.edu/aic)
*Illinois residents with ID receive free admission the first and second Wednesday of every month.
Illinois residents receive a $2 discount after February 10, 2012.
Brookfield Zoo
(3300 Golf Rd; Brookfield, 708-688-8000, czs.org/czs/Brookfield/Zoo-Home)
The next free days will take place in October. Specific dates TBD.
Active military personnel receive free admission daily. Parking $10.
Chicago Botanic Garden
(1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe; 847-835-5440, chicagobotanic.org)
Free admission daily. Parking $20 per car, $7 for senior citizens on Tuesdays. Free parking is available for active military
personnel and non-active Illinois POWs. The Metra Union Pacific North line stops just outside the gates, which means you
can avoid parking if you're up for a train ride with the fam.
Chicago Children's Museum
(700 E Grand Ave, 312-527-1000, chicagochildrensmuseum.org)
Free Thursday evenings from 5–8pm. The first Sunday of every month is free for children 15 and younger.
Chicago History Museum
(1601 N Clark St, 312-642-4600, chicagohistory.org)
Free for children 12 and younger daily.
*2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days offer free general admission for Illinois residents with ID.
July: 4
August: 15-16, 22-23, 29-30
September: 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27
October: 2-4, 9-11
Clarke House Museum
(1827 S Indiana Ave, 312-326-1480, clarkehousemuseum.org)
Free admission every Wednesday, year round.
DuSable Museum of African American History
(740 E 56th Pl, 773-947-0600, dusablemuseum.org)
Free every Sunday, year round. Free admission for all CPS students on school days. Children younger than five are free.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum

2. (230 S. LaSalle St. http://www.chicagofed.org)
Monday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm; 45-minute guided tours available at Monday - Friday at 1 pm.
The Field Museum*
(1400 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org)
*2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days offer free general admission for Illinois residents with ID.
Summer 2012 discount days will be announced in May.
The Crown Family PlayLab is free with Basic admission and is open Thursday-Monday, 10am-4pm.
Glessner House Museum
(1800 S Prairie Ave, 312-326-1480, glessnerhouse.org)
Free admission every Wednesday, year round.
Kohl Children's Museum*
(2100 Patriot Blvd; Glenview, 847-832-6600, kohlchildrensmuseum.org)
*Free admission Wednesday afternoons after 1pm for Glenview Residents with ID.
Free parking.
Lincoln Park Zoo
(2200 N Cannon Dr, 312-742-2000, lpzoo.org)
Free admission daily. Cab fare from downtown is about $10 and buses #151, #156, #22 and #36 all stop near the zoo.
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
(220 Cottage Hill Ave; Elmhurst, 630-833-1616, lizzadromuseum.org)
Free admission every Friday, year round. Active military personnel receive free admission daily.
Loyola University Museum of Art
(820 N Michigan Ave, 312-915-7600, luc.edu/luma)
Free admission every Tuesday. Free everyday for active military personnel and their families, Loyola University Chicago
faculty and staff, Loyola students younger than 25, members of the clergy and employees from other museums (all with valid
ID).
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
(3001 Central St; Evanston, 847-475-1030, mitchellmuseum.org)
Free admission every first Friday of the month. Kids’ Craft Activities free with regular admission. Tribal members free daily.
Museum of Contemporary Art*
(220 E Chicago Ave, 312-280-2660, mcachicago.org)
*Free every Tuesday for Illinois residents with ID. Free for military personnel and children 12 and under.
Museum of Science and Industry*
(5700 S Lake Shore Dr, 773-684-1414, msichicago.org)
*2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days offer free general admission for Illinois residents with ID.
April: 19
May: 23
June: 4-8, 11
September: 4-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28
National Museum of Mexican Art
(1852 W 19th St, 312-738-1503, nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org)
Free admission daily.
The Oriental Institute Museum
(1155 E 58th St, 773-702-9520, oi.uchicago.edu/museum)
Free admission daily with a suggested donation of $7 adult and $4 child.

3. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum*
(2430 N Cannon Dr, 773-755-5100, naturemuseum.org)
*Free every Thursday for Illinois residents with ID. Free for children 3 and younger.
Shedd Aquarium
(1200 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-939-2438, sheddaquarium.org)
*2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days offer free general admission for Illinois residents with ID.
June: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
September: 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25
October: 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
November: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27
Free admission for the first weekend of the month for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch card holders.
Swedish American Museum Center
(5211 N Clark St, 773-728-8111, swedishamericanmuseum.org)
Free admission on the second Tuesday of each month.