Family Says Young Son With Rare Condition Denied Entry To Chicago Museum For Not Wearing Maskyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link
A Chicago family says their 3-year-old son was denied entry to the Museum of Science and Industry because he wasn’t wearing a mask, and now the family is asking Illinois officials to remind the public that medical exemptions exist for the requirement to wear facial coverings in indoor spaces.
NBC Chicago on MSN.com
Field Museum Of Natural History
This is the top field museum in Chicago, established in the year 1893, is one of the largest museums in the world of its kind, and is dedicated to natural history. They have many exhibits based on the biological, geographic, and ecological evolution of history dating back to the prehistoric age and some of the most important exhibits include Animal Halls, Inside Ancient Egypt, Underground Adventure and Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Location: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, USATimings: 9AM5PM.
Chicago History Museum Tours
Some of the popular fun-filled efficient tours that will take you through the famous landmarks in Chicago are as follows –
1. Chicagos on Fire Tour This tour will take you through the 54 sites where the Great Fire of 1871 took place. Along the way, learn about fire-proofing buildings and about the few buildings and structures that survived.
2. The Loop L Tour Explore Chicago and the popular places in the vicinity with distinct cultures and history with the Loop L Tour on the elevated train while you enjoy a fun ride and get a glimpse of the citys perspectives.
3. Devil in the White City Tour This 3-hour bus ride takes you through Prairie Avenue, the site of the Victorian-era tavern, including a walk through the Jackson Park and Wooded Island. This diverse bus tour takes you through the Chicago streets, home to famous business elites during the Chicago Fair.
4. Pilsen Murals Walking Tour This tour was conceptualized by two eminent art educators combined with an effort of organizing art engagement practices and events. The tour reflects the connection with the natural history of the places and local art with the visitors.
5. Union Station Walking Tour The Union Station is the main transportation hub and one of the last great railway terminals that have gone down in history. The tour will take you through the many moments in Americas history and its significance. It is a part of the Chicago History Museum Walking Tour.
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The Oriental Institute Museum
Over 6,000 years of archaeological treasures make The Oriental Institute Museum one of the cities best. Stroll through Ancient Egypt, Israel, Persia and Assyria galleries or explore the mysteries of Mesopotamia. The museum itself is not very large, but be sure to carve out a few hours for the impressive collections.
Must See: 40-ton human-headed wing bull from Khorsabad
The Chicago History Museum

History Museum
Founded in 1856, The Chicago History Museum was originally named the Chicago Historical Society. Like so much of the city, the Chicago Historical Society’s early collection was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Some of the items lost in the fire included the final draft of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. In 2006, the museum was officially titled the Chicago History Museum.
Highlights
Here are some of the “must see” items at The Chicago History Museum.
- The first passenger car to run on the ‘L’
- Chicago: Crossroads of America
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Federal Reserve Bank Of Chicago Money Museum
Want more bang for your buck on your tour of the Loops museums? A visit to the Money Museum wont cost you a dime. The collection spotlights historical currency and artifacts, so if youre wondering what money looked like in Colonial times, this is the place to go. There are games and simulations, too, so you can experience how the Federal Reserve works, and even try your hand at monetary policy-making.
Money Museum, 230 S. LaSalle St.
Free Museums In Chicago
Some of the famous museums which have free admission in Chicago are listed below-
1. Smart Museum of Art This art museum is located at the University of Chicago and is free for all visitors. It is opened all through the week but closed on Mondays and major holidays.
2. National Museum of Mexican Art It houses a variety of Mexican artifacts and does not charge any admission fee. It is also closed on Mondays and other major holidays.
3. Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art This museum offers a wide range of artifacts across many cultures and time. It is open to all visitors and closed on Mondays and major holidays.
4. Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago Although this museum doesnt charge admission fees, it is suggested to give donations depending upon age groups. It is open to all visitors and closed on Mondays and major holidays.
5. Museum of Science and Industry Chicago – It is open to all visitors and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
6. Chicago Childrens Museum This museum offers free admission for children under the age of 15, however on the first Sundays of every month.
7. Chicago History Museum Youths of Illinois under 18 years of age and children under 12 Years from other states are given free entries all the time. However, Illinois residents can access the museum free of costs every Tuesday.
Upcoming:
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Chicago’s Peggy Notebaert Museum Brings Nature Indoors For Kidsyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link
Are you looking for something for your kids to do this winter break that’s fun, educational and won’t break the bank? Chicago’s Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum says it has what you’re looking for. Reset checks in with the Lincoln Park museum about new exhibits and what families can expect this winter season.
WBEZ
Museum Of Science And Industry
Science Museum
The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Chicago’s Jackson Park in the former Palace of Fine Arts. MSI has more than 2,000 exhibits that are visited by an estimated 1.5 million annual guests. The museum’s exhibits include the Henry Crown Space Center, FarmTech, a transportation gallery, a collection dedicated to alternative energy in Chicago, ToyMaker 3000, and Science Storms.
Highlights
Here are some of the “must see” items at Museum of Science and Industry.
- A German submarine captured during WWII
- The command module of Apollo 8
- The first diesel-powered stainless steel passenger train
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The Best Art Museums In Chicago
Chicago Water Tower
Art Institute of Chicago
Smart Museum of Art
Richard H. Driehaus Museum
National Museum of Mexican Art
Museum of Contemporary Photography
Museum of Contemporary Art
Boeing Galleries
Free With A Tourist Pass
If youre looking for another way to save some money on museum tickets, you may want to think about getting a Chicago attraction discount tourist pass.
These services allow you to pay one flat price for access to either a specific number of attractions or a set number of days in which you can enjoy dozens of popular activities.
Once youve paid for the pass, youll receive free access to all of the museums included with the service.
In addition to providing free or discounted admission to several museums, most passes also offer skip-the-line privileges at some locations.
The following Chicago museums are included with tourist passes:
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Best Museums In Chicago
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One of the worlds best Impressionist collections and the greatest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world are just a couple of the superlatives that characterize the treasures in Chicago’s best museums. Whatever your interest, from literature to industry, Pacific white-sided dolphins to Egyptian mummies, youll find it in one of the citys cultural institutions. The city also smartly caters to kids in search of nothing more than a fun place to run around for an hour as well as adults deeply invested in rare and obscure work. Here, our list of the best museums in the Windy City. While most museums on this list are now open to visitors, stay tuned this spring as the rest continue to open their doors.
Editor’s note: Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hours and accessibility of many places are fluid and subject to change. We advise you to contact businesses directly for updated safety guidelines and hours of operation before visiting.
Museum Of Contemporary Art

Get a little bold and adventurous at the Museum of Contemporary Art, located just one block east of historic Water Tower Placeon The Magnificent Mile. Browse the museums permanent collection, which includes more than 2,500 works, displayed in rotation, spanning media and movements from the 1920s to the present. Over the summer, Tuesdays on the Terrace brings you free, live jazz in the museum gardens, while morning visitors are greeted with weekly farmers markets at the museums monumental front steps. Check out the MCA Stage, too, where provocative performances are staged throughout the year.
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Streeterville.
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Brunk Childrens Museum Of Immigration At The Swedish American Museum
This is the nations first childrens museum devoted to the topic of immigration, with hands-on interactive exhibits that focus on the Swedish immigrant experience. Youll find it located on the third floor of the Swedish American Museum, in the heart of Chicagos charming Andersonville neighborhood. Interactive exhibits give kids the chance to experience immigration firsthand, with features such as a replica of a century-old Swedish farmhouse, and a 20-foot immigrant steamship that replicates the journey to America.
Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., Andersonville
The Richard H Driehaus Museum
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum is located at 40 East Erie Street near the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. This museum is housed within the campus of the famous Chicago banker Samuel M. Nickerson and recreates the Gilded Age America and the Art Nouveau era during special events.
The interiors are well carved with marble, onyx, exotic woods, glazed tiles, and glasses. It is named after the Chicago businessman and philanthropist, Richard H. Driehaus and consists of his private collection of Fine and Decorative Arts. The Museums design is based on late 19th century and early 20th-century art with a keen focus on the Gilded Age art.
The museum is well known for its exquisite building design, also known as Gilded Age Chicagos Marble Palace. The museum houses decorative arts and is mainly famous for Tiffany glass. It was designed to appeal the diversified audiences from every culture and walk of life, besides portraying the urban lifestyle of Chicago. It is a perfect example of the palatial homes erected during the Gilded Age where the galleries are elegantly furnished with items from the famous designers Louis Comfort Tiffany and Herter Brothers. The interiors are meticulously furnished to complement the art galleries being presented. Be a part of the educational programs, special exhibits, and other cultural events at this world-renowned art museum.
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The Museum Of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 220 East Chicago Avenue in Streeterville neighborhood of Near North Side area of Downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. It was established in 1967 as the worlds largest contemporary art museum featuring items from Post-World War II visual art collection. It is a run gallery-style exhibition showcasing individual curations throughout the year.
It was designed by Josef Paul Kleihues after a twelve-month search and reviewing hundreds of nominations.
Although it was designed as a bakery, the new building is famous for its staircase thats leads you to the elevated ground floor. It has an atrium along with the full-glass walled corners on the eastern and western fringes, giving a magnificent view of the Lake Michigan and the city.
It has hosted many notable exhibitions, and the latest one to record the highest attendance is the Takashi Murakami in 2017. The museum collection consists of conceptual art, contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography, pop art, minimalism along with music and multidisciplinary arts.
Heres A Closer Look At This Citys Most Impressive Art Collections And Exhibits
Art Institute of Chicagoartic.edu Clocking in at one million square feet, the Art Institute of Chicago is the second largest art museum in the country, following the Metropolitan. Book a tour through the museum for a guided walk through the collection, or download the museums app for 50 personalized tours.
Art Institute of Chicago
mcachicago.com The Museum of Contempary Art downtown is one of the largest contemporary art venues in the world. Bonus: Its also the only U.S. stop on the international tour of David Bowie Is, a retrospective of the performers career organized by Londons Victoria and Albert Museum. Through January 4.
Rhona Hoffman Gallery
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Best Things To Do In Chicago
Here are the 15 best things to do in Chicago. They range from amazing outdoor experiences to world renowned interactive museums, and from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy. Most are family friendly, close to downtown and easy to get to with public transportation. All have parking options, but in most cases, parking is expensive in downtown Chicago so consider other means to get there.
What State Has The Best Museum
Best Museum in Every U.S. State
- Utah: Natural History Museum of Utah.
- Vermont: Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home.
- Virginia: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
- Washington: Museum of Pop Culture.
- West Virginia: Huntington Museum of Art.
- Wisconsin: Milwaukee Art Museum.
- Wyoming: Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
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Pritzker Military Museum & Library
At the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, Youll find thousands of artifacts, books, posters, photographs, maps, and manuscripts, ranging from military medals to swords, that tell Americas history through the eyes of the citizen soldier. Take a tour any day of the week or wander collections ranging from WWII and Korean War training comics to medical research files on topics like early ambulances and Civil War nurses.
Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 104 S. Michigan Ave., 2nd Floor
The Permanent Exhibition Includes The Following:

U-505 German Submarine – It houses the U-505 German submarines that terrorized the world during the great wars. It was captured and being held as a national memorial to the American soldiers and the fallen comrades.
The Chick Hatchery This exhibition is about achievements in the field of genetics as baby chicks get evolved into real chicks as it emerges from their shells into the new world.
The Coal Mine It is one of the most favorite exhibits for students field trip as it takes you below the surface and gets you hands-on-experience as a coal-miner.
Brick by Brick The Lego bricks are being used to recreate world-famous structures such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the International Space Station.
Farm Tech It exhibits the farming culture of America as students and visitors learn how food items are being produced to reach ones dining plate finally.
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Richard H Driehaus Museum
As soon as you step through the door, youre going to be wowed by Driehaus Museums glistening marble floors, grand staircases, ornate decorative arts, imposing fireplaces, and antique furnishings. The museum is housed in the former Nickerson Mansion, which became known as the Marble Palace a fitting place to bring Chicagos Gilded Age to life. The museum hosts rotating exhibits, as well as special events such as Halloween whodunits and Mothers Day teas, throughout the year.
Richard H. Driehaus Museum, 40 E. Erie St.
Oriental Institute Of The University Of Chicago
This is yet another great museum to visit in the windy city, but its worth noting that while they dont technically offer free admission, they do accept donations of just about any amount.
The Oriental Institute has permanent galleries focused on ancient Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, Nubia, Syria, Anatolia, and other ancient Near East locations.
As with most museums, they also provide limited exhibits that rotate every few months, each devoted to subjects related to ancient Eastern culture.
Hours
- 10 am – 5 pm | Tue, Thur-Sun
- 10 am – 8 pm | Wednesday
- Closed on Monday & major US holidays
The suggested donation amount is $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12.
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Art Institute Of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is as much a symbol of Chitown as the Bean. Here youll find one of the best impressionist collections in the country made up of over 300,000 permanent pieces. Be sure to carve out enough time to spend an entire morning or afternoon here due to the size.
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Are There Any Museums In The State Of Illinois
Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace are not included. Located in the courthouse with the Old Lincoln Courtroom, collection includes guns, Civil War memorabilia, and Native American artifacts. Open by appointment. Displays cars, trucks and memorabilia
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