Chicago's museums rank among the best in the world. How lucky are we that we get to live near them and visit often?
Here is a quick reference guide to the museums that consistently turn up as the city's most popular, based on attendance. Find the essentials you need to visit today.
1. Adler Planetarium
Courtesy of the Adler Planetarium
Location: Museum Campus, East of Soldier Field
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
312-922-STAR(7827)
Directions
Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, founded in 1930, is America's first and oldest planetarium. It now houses two star-gazing theaters, a unique collection of antique instruments, extensive exhibit space, and many hands-on exhibits. It also offers one of the most wonderful views of the skyline in the entire city.
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
312-922-STAR(7827)
Directions
Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, founded in 1930, is America's first and oldest planetarium. It now houses two star-gazing theaters, a unique collection of antique instruments, extensive exhibit space, and many hands-on exhibits. It also offers one of the most wonderful views of the skyline in the entire city.
- Mon - Fri, Sat & Sun, 9:30-4:30
- First Friday of Every Month, 9:30a.m.-10p.m.
Summer Hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day) - Mon to Fri, Sat & Sun, 9:30-6
- First Friday Every Month, 9:30a-10p
Hours (Labor Day to Memorial Day)
2. The Art Institute of Chicago
Courtesy of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau
Location: Downtown Where Adams Street Meets Michigan Avenue
111 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
(312)443-3600
Directions
The Art Institute consistently ranks among Chicago's most-visited museums. From French Impressionist paintings to African masks to the building of the new wing for Modern Art, the museum offers visitors a rich cultural experience.
111 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
(312)443-3600
Directions
The Art Institute consistently ranks among Chicago's most-visited museums. From French Impressionist paintings to African masks to the building of the new wing for Modern Art, the museum offers visitors a rich cultural experience.
- Hours
- Mon to Wed, 10:30-5
- Thurs, 10:30-8
- Friday, 10:30-5
- Sat to Sun, 10-5
- FREE on Thursday Evenings, 5-8
3. The Chicago History Museum
© Jennifer Roche
Location: In Lincoln Park on Chicago's North Side
1601 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(312)642-4600
Directions
The Chicago History Museum exhibits artifacts from the depth of their 22 million item collection and from the breadth of the city's history. From the Chicago Bulls to the Great Chicago Fire, the museum covers it all and offers contexts and exhibits to make Chicago's history relevant to our lives today. (Formerly the Chicago Historical Society.)
1601 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(312)642-4600
Directions
The Chicago History Museum exhibits artifacts from the depth of their 22 million item collection and from the breadth of the city's history. From the Chicago Bulls to the Great Chicago Fire, the museum covers it all and offers contexts and exhibits to make Chicago's history relevant to our lives today. (Formerly the Chicago Historical Society.)
- Hours
- Mon to Wed, 9:30-4:30
- Thurs, 9:30a-8p
- Fri and Sat, 9:30-4:30
- Sun, Noon-5
- FREE on Mondays
- FREE for children 12 and under all the time.
4. DuSable Museum of African American History
Location: East Side of Washington Park on Chicago's South Side
740 East 56th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
(773)947-0600
Directions
DuSable is the nation's oldest museum dedicated to the exploration, documentation, and celebration of the African American experience.
740 East 56th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
(773)947-0600
Directions
DuSable is the nation's oldest museum dedicated to the exploration, documentation, and celebration of the African American experience.
- Hours
- Tues to Fri, 10-5
- Sun, Noon - 5 and FREE to all
5. The Field Museum of Natural History
Courtesy of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
Location: Museum Campus, directly North of Soldier Field
1400 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312)738-1503
Directions
The Field Museum is probably best known for its dinosaur displays, but it also has a rich and deep dedication to "the diversity and relationships in nature and among cultures." It currently holds, conserves, studies more than 20 million objects, a collection which grew from holdings received after the Columbian Exposition of 1893.
1400 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312)738-1503
Directions
The Field Museum is probably best known for its dinosaur displays, but it also has a rich and deep dedication to "the diversity and relationships in nature and among cultures." It currently holds, conserves, studies more than 20 million objects, a collection which grew from holdings received after the Columbian Exposition of 1893.
- Hours
- Daily, 9-5
6. Museum of Contemporary Art
Location: Michigan Avenue, a Few Blocks East of the Old Water Tower220 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312)280-2660
Directions
Chicago's contemporary art center explores, exhibits, and collects art created since 1945. They're dedicated to allowing the public "to directly experience the work and ideas of living artists, and understand the historical, social, and cultural context of the art of our time."
- Hours
- Closed Mon
- Tu, 10-8 and FREE all day
- Wed to Sun, 10-5
7. Museum of Science and Industry
Joe Ziolkowski, Museum of Science and Industry
Location: Hyde Park at Lake Shore Drive and 57th Street on Chicago's South Side
57th & Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
(773)684-1414
Directions
Since 1933, this enormous museum has been dedicated to the educating the public about science and industry. From the working coal-shaft elevator to the captured German World War II submarine and the Boeing 727 that you can walk through, the museum's collections and hands-on exhibits seem almost endless.
57th & Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
(773)684-1414
Directions
Since 1933, this enormous museum has been dedicated to the educating the public about science and industry. From the working coal-shaft elevator to the captured German World War II submarine and the Boeing 727 that you can walk through, the museum's collections and hands-on exhibits seem almost endless.
- Hours
- Mon to Sat, 9:30-4
- Sun, 11-4
8. The Notebaert Nature Museum
© Jennifer Roche
Location: Just North of Fullerton in Lincoln Park on Chicago's North Side
2430 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL 60614
(773)755-5100
Directions
The Nature Museum is devoted to "inspiring people to learn about and care for nature and the environment." The museum works in conjunction with the collections and scientists of the Chicago Academy of Sciences to create exhibits, programs, and more. The museum also features a live butterfly exhibit.
2430 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL 60614
(773)755-5100
Directions
The Nature Museum is devoted to "inspiring people to learn about and care for nature and the environment." The museum works in conjunction with the collections and scientists of the Chicago Academy of Sciences to create exhibits, programs, and more. The museum also features a live butterfly exhibit.
- Hours
- Mon to Fri, 9-4:30
- Sat and Sun, 10-5
9. National Museum of Mexican Art
Location: Southwest of the Loop in the Pilsen/Little Village Neighborhood1852 West 19th Street
Chicago, IL 60608
(312)738-1503
Directions
The National Museum of Mexican Art is dedicated to stimulating and preserving knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture. It is one of the largest collections of Latino art in the nation, and it is also the only Latino institution to receive accreditation from the American Association of Museums. The current collection includes more than 5,500 objects.
- Hours
- Mon, Closed
- Tues - Sun, 10-5
10. The Shedd Aquarium
Courtesy of The Shedd Aquarium
Location: Museum Campus, just Northeast of Soldier Field
1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312)939-2438
Directions
The Shedd is dedicated to "engaging, inspiring, entertaining and informing" the public about the life in our oceans and waterways. They feature an Oceanarium, Wild Reef exhibit, Amazon River exhibit, and they pride themselves on their dedication to conservation and the protection of wildlife habitats.
1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312)939-2438
Directions
The Shedd is dedicated to "engaging, inspiring, entertaining and informing" the public about the life in our oceans and waterways. They feature an Oceanarium, Wild Reef exhibit, Amazon River exhibit, and they pride themselves on their dedication to conservation and the protection of wildlife habitats.
- Hours (Labor Day to Memorial Day)
- Mon to Fri, 9-5
- Sat and Sun, 9-6
- Summer Hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- Daily, 9-6
- Thursdays, mid-June through August, 9a-10p
