Chicago has one of the best collections of museums and attractions on the planet. Visiting all of them can get a little costly, especially if you’re taking the family. So it’s understandable why free admission days generate quite a lot of hype!
Luckily for us, the wonderful variety of museums and attractions in the Windy City love to announce free days throughout the year offering locals the chance to see some of the world’s most awe-inspiring wonders regularly, for absolutely zero cost.
Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry has followed in the footsteps of the Shedd Aquarium and the Art Institute of Chicago by revealing that it will offer a series of free days to help us get through winter.
Starting in January, Illinois Residents will be able to enter the prestigious museum completely free on more than 20 different dates.
The 2024 free days will kick off on Monday, January 22 with a total of 7 free days in the latter part of January and a whopping 16 days in February.
Further free days for the months following February will also be announced in due course, but for now, it’s important to reserve the free tickets on your preferred dates and enjoy the Western Hemisphere’s largest science museum without paying a penny!
These are the Illinois Resident Free Days at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry that have been shared with us so far:
- Monday, January 22
- Tuesday, January 23
- Wednesday, January 24
- Sunday, January 28
- Monday, January 29
- Tuesday, January 30
- Wednesday, January 31
- Monday, February 5
- Tuesday, February 6
- Wednesday, February 7
- Thursday, February 8
- Sunday, February 11
- Monday, February 12
- Tuesday, February 13
- Wednesday, February 14
- Thursday, February 15
- Tuesday, February 20
- Wednesday, February 21
- Thursday, February 22
- Monday, February 26
- Tuesday, February 27
- Wednesday, February 28
- Thursday, February 29
All visitors must bring proof of residency to be eligible for the free admission days and entry is limited to six children under the age of 18 per one accompanying adult.
The Museum of Science & Industry currently has a range of exclusive exhibitions that are not included in the free museum entry but can be purchased at a reduced fee.
The Coal Mine tours, Dissect an Eye experiences, and Fab Lab workshops are also available at a discounted price of $12 for adults and $9 for children while the U-505 On-board Tour and recently extended Pompeii: The Exhibition are both $18 for adults and $14 for children.
As ever the museum is always free for active U.S. military personnel and veterans, Illinois POWs, Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers, and Illinois teachers. In all cases, a valid occupational I.D. must be provided when purchasing tickets onsite.
Tickets are available online, by phone at (773) 684-1414, or at Museum ticket counters. More information regarding free entry can be found at www.msichicago.org/illinois-free-days.
[Featured image from Shutterstock]