There are Still Free Things To Do in Chicago
April 2, 2009 by Steve
Filed under Free in Chicago
Just because the Art Institute is raising its admission prices doesn’t mean that art has been priced out of your reach. There are still a lot of things to do for free in Chicago. The Mexican Fine Arts Museum (1852 W. 19th, 312-738-1503, www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org) is free year-round, as is the Smart Museum at the University of Chicago (5550 S. Greenwood, 773-702-0200, smartmuseum.uchicago.edu).
Chicago residents with valid library cards also can check out a free Museum Passport that gets two adults and two children into one of 13 museums for free, including the Art Institute, the Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Each library location has a limited number of free passports for each of the 13 museums and only one passport can be checked out at a time. And if that weren’t enough, just about every museum has a free general-admission day.
* Adler Planetarium (1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-922-7827, www.adlerplanetarium.org): Free on April 21, April 28, May 5, 12, 19 and 26, June 7-12, Sept. 1, Sept. 8, 14-18, 22 and 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, and 24 and Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22.
* Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan, 312-443-3600, www.artic.edu/aic): Free on 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays.
* Chicago Children’s Museum (700 E. Grand, 312-527-1000, chicagochildrensmuseum.org): 5-8 p.m. Thursdays for everyone. Free on the first Monday of every month for children 15 and under ($10 adults).
* Field Museum (1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-922-9410, www.fieldmuseum.org): Free on the second Monday of the month (April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14).
* Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago, 312-280-2660, www.mcachicago.org): Free every Tuesday.
* Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, 773-684-1414, www.msichicago.org): Free on April 22, June 1-5 and June 19, Oct. 8-9, Oct. 12-16, Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-Oct. 30 and Nov. 11.
* Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-939-2438, www.sheddaquarium.org): Free on June 14-19, Mondays and Tuesdays in Sept., Oct. 2-10, Oct. 16-17, Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 30.
* Spertus Museum (610 S. Michigan, 312-322-1700, www.spertus.edu): Free on Wednesdays 10 a.m.-noon and Thursdays 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (Regular admission is relatively inexpensive; $7 adults, $5 students and seniors).
Hi,
My friend is coming to Chicago with his grandson August 6-9 and it will be his first visit to the windy city. His budget is limited; so he needs a moderately priced hotel or motel room near the heart of the city. He also needs an understanding of the transportation system. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated..discount tickets…list of free events, etc. Thanks and take care.
I’m coming out to Chicago for the first time and staying at the W hotel off of Lake Shore Drive. I’m going to be there for business during the day. My husband and daughter will be available all day. I don’t think I’m going to have a rental car, so I need to know what’s good for a 8 year daughter and early 40 something couple in Chicago for us to enjoy.
We will have a limited amount of cash. Can you send me any literature or website links with information on things near by where we are staying. How is the transit system there? Is it safe? How much the taxi cost? Anyway please send me any information you think may help? Thanks