DUSABLE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

Once a week throughout the year, the DuSable Museum offers free admission:

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• Every Wednesday throughout the year is FREE!

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Online booking in advance is currently required for all visitors.

Admission is always free for military and first responders.

ADler Planetarium

Throughout the year, Alder Planetarium host plenty of free days for America’s first planetarium. Take note that this is only free for Illinois residents.

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• Every WEDNESDAY NIGHT (4p - 10p) beginning after March 4, 2022  is free for Illinois Residents (with proof of residency). 

*All tickets must be purchased online and in advance.* Admission is always free for Illinois teachers (pre-K through 12), active duty military and veterans, and active police and firefighters.

Art institute of chicago

Illinois residents can enjoy free admission to the Art Institute throughout the year. Here are some upcoming dates:

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• Weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, + Fridays) November 29 – December 17, 2021

• Weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, + Fridays) from January 3 – March 17, 2022

Overall, children under 14, Chicago teens under 18, and active duty military along with their family are given free access any day!

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You MUST secure your tickets in advance in order to receive free admission. Click the link below for tickets.

brookfield Zoo

Brookfield Zoo is an award-winning zoo outside of Chicago, and they are offering the following free dates:

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• 2022 FREE DAYS NOT YET ANNOUNCED

• A parking fee still applies

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Free admission at the Brookfield Zoo for all active, reserve, and retired members of the military with an ID. Admission is also free for children age 2 and under.

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*Brookfield Zoo will not require proof of vaccination to enter the zoo, visit the indoor animal exhibits, use the restrooms or to purchase food to-go from outdoor or indoor restaurant locations. 

Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden is offering...

• FREE EVERY DAY (parking, though, costs $25)!

Chicago Children's Museum

The Chicago Children’s Museum offers veterans and active military free admission every day with the presentation of valid military status identification.

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• FREE DATES CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

They also offer families that qualify for state food assistance and are in possession of an EBT card or WIC card free admission for up to 6 people.

the field museum

Illinois residents can spend a day at The Field Museum with complimentary admission on the following free days:

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• FREE Every Tuesday and Wednesday from August 23 - November 9, 2022- Must be Illinois resident

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Illinois teachers (pre-K through 12th grade) and active military personnel receive free basic admission year-round.

Lincoln Park Zoo

This amazing zoo in the heart of Chicago, sitting in one of the coolest neighborhoods in the city, is this sprawling zoo with beautiful gardens. They offer...

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• FREE ADMISSION EVERYDAY!

Museum of COntemporary Art

MCA is free to Illinois residents...

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• FREE EVERY TUESDAY, year-round

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Free for those under 18, or who are members of the military (active or veterans), police, or fire department, visitors with disabilities and their caregivers, and Illinois elementary through high school teachers.

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To encourage more people to visit and visit often, the MCA has a pay-what-you-can policy — no one will be turned away! How cool is that?!

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Museum of Science and Industry

Illinois residents can enjoy free admission on the following days:

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• January 9-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31, 2022

• February 1-2, 7-9, 11, 13-14, 16, 2022

• March 1-2, 7, 13-14, 2022

• April 21, 25, 2022

• May 2, 4, 9, 17-18, 2022

• June 1, 14, 2022

• September 6-7, 12-15, 19-20, 26-27, 2022

• October 4-5, 10-11, 17-18, 2022

• November 1, 8, 2022

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*Limited to six children (under 18) admitted per one accompanying adult. 

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The Museum of Science and Industry is always free for United States military active-duty personnel and veterans, Illinois POWs, Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers and Illinois teachers (Pre-K through 12th grade).

The Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium is offering Illinois residents free access to all permanent exhibits, including special exhibits Underwater Beauty and seasonal Stingray Touch.

Advance reservations required; no tickets will be available onsite. A $3-per-order transaction fee applies to Illinois Free Day tickets reserved online. All adults must provide proof of residency in-person when redeeming tickets at the discounted rate.

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• SEPTEMBER 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 2022

Chicago History Museum

Children under 12 years old and Illinois residents under 18 years old are always free.

Free admission is also always available to all active-duty military and all veterans, active duty Chicago Police Department members, active duty Chicago Fire Department members, City Colleges of Chicago students, faculty, and staff, and Illinois teachers.

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• JANUARY 17, 2022

• FEBRUARY 1-4, 21, 2022

• MARCH 4, 2022

• JUNE 19, 2022

• JULY 4, 2022

• AUGUST 23-26, 30-31, 2022

• OCTOBER 10, 2022

illinois holocaust Museum

The Illinois Holocaust Museum is offering free admission...

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• The LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONEHT IN 2022 (starting on January 28, 2022)

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Reserve your free tickets in advance. Visitors with an active Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card and a photo ID receive several other Free Admission dates (also found in the link below).

National Museum of Mexican Art

The National Museum of Mexican Art is offering free admission...

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• FREE EVERY DAY!

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Chicago Cultural Center

Admission is free year-round at the Chicago Cultural Center

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• FREE EVERY DAY

Dusable museum of African american history

Admission is always free to children 6 and younger, military, and first responders.

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• FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY, year-round