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!
Though free days are announced are often offered sporadically at Chicogo’s top attractions like the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science & Industry, and the Shedd Aquarium, it makes it a good deal easier to plan when you can bank on a free day far in advance.
Another of Chicago’s most beloved museums, the Field Museum, for a long time, announced random free days throughout the year especially during the months that were calmer for Chicago’s tourism industry.
This year, however, the Field Museum is doing it a little differently. The iconic museum has announced that it will instead offer locals the chance to see some of the world’s most awe-inspiring wonders every Wednesday of 2024, for absolutely zero cost.
Illinois residents will be able to enter the popular natural history museum completely free of charge between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays provided they bring proof of residency.
According to the Field Museum website, “tickets for Free Days are only available to Illinois residents onsite and cannot be reserved in advance. Please ask a Guest Relations staff member when you arrive at the museum and be ready to show your Illinois proof of residency.”
In addition to an Illinois identification card, the Field Museum has stated that the following are also accepted as valid ID:
- Illinois lease
- Illinois library card
- Illinois student ID with photo
- Illinois utility bill
- Illinois work ID or check stub
- Illinois driver’s license
“A new year means new free Wednesdays for Illinois residents plus new programs for young visitors to the Field Museum”, read the official release. “Families visiting the museum on Wednesdays can also take advantage of PlayLab PlayDates, a new weekly program launched for ages 2 to 6.”
“PlayLab PlayDates are free, drop-in activities featuring storytime sessions, music and movement circles, science experiments and more”, it continued. “Pre-registration is not required.”
More information can be found on the Field Museum website.
[Featured Image courtesy of fieldmuseum.org]