Totally Free Chicago

[ March 9, 2010; 2:00 pm; March 16, 2010; 2:00 pm; March 23, 2010; 2:00 pm; March 30, 2010; 2:00 pm; ] .
Harold Washington Library Center
400 South State Street – Chicago, IL

The Art Tour focuses on the impressive collection of original art work on display throughout the building. The collection includes works of art by over 50 artists, local and internationally known, employing a variety of…

[ February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010. March 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010. April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010. May 1, 2010 to May 9, 2010. ] .
Lincoln Park Conservatory
2391 North Stockton Drive – Chicago, IL

Under the snowy landscapes of Chicago, spring is still able to make an early entrance with the help of the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Escape…

[ February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010. March 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010. April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010. May 1, 2010 to May 9, 2010. ] .
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 North Central Park Avenue – Chicago, IL

Put some spring in your step starting in January! Come view the Spring Flower Show to enjoy gorgeous flowers long before they are blooming naturally…

[ January 8, 2010; 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. February 12, 2010; 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. March 12, 2010; 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. ] .
Chicago Arts District Information Center
1821 South Halsted Street – Chicago, IL

The Chicago Arts District hosts “2nd FRIDAYS Gallery Night”, the monthly opening receptions at the galleries and artists’ studios centered around South Halsted and 18th Streets in…

[ March 2, 2010; March 9, 2010; March 16, 2010; March 23, 2010; April 20, 2010; ] .
Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive – Chicago, IL

The Adler Planetarium — America’s First Planetarium — is home to three full-size theaters and is a recognized leader in science…

[ January 12, 2010; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. February 9, 2010; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. March 9, 2010; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. April 13, 2010; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. ] .
Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration
Swedish American Museum Center
5211 North Clark Street – Chicago, IL

The Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration is an interactive, hands-on museum for children ages 3-12. The museum has a Swedish focus; however, the story…

[ March 8, 2010 to March 12, 2010. March 15, 2010 to March 19, 2010. March 22, 2010 to March 26, 2010. March 29, 2010 to April 2, 2010. April 5, 2010 to April 9, 2010. ] .
Money Museum
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
230 South LaSalle Street – Chicago, IL

Visit the Money Museum and view the exhibits including a history of the Federal Reserve, the Million Dollar Cube, the Million Dollar Suitcase, and get a FREE BAG OF MONEY!!!

[ February 22, 2010 to February 26, 2010. March 1, 2010 to March 5, 2010. March 8, 2010 to March 12, 2010. March 15, 2010 to March 19, 2010. March 22, 2010 to March 26, 2010. ] .
Visitor Information Center @ Chicago Cultural Center
77 East Randolph Street – Chicago, IL
Advance Registration REQUIRED

Chicago Greeter is a free tour service provided by the Chicago Office of Tourism that matches visitors with enthusiastic, city-knowledgeable residents. These…

[ March 1, 2010; March 8, 2010; March 15, 2010; March 22, 2010; March 29, 2010; ] .
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street – Chicago, IL

If you live in Chicago or visit here and are curious about the city’s past, present, and future, the Museum should be your first stop. It showcases millions of authentic…

[ February 24, 2010; 12:00 pm; March 3, 2010; 12:00 pm; March 10, 2010; 12:00 pm; March 17, 2010; 12:00 pm; March 24, 2010; 12:00 pm; ] .
Clarke House Museum
1827 South Indiana Avenue – Chicago, IL

Built in 1836 for Henry B. Clarke, the Clarke House Museum is Chicago’s oldest surviving building. The house shows what life was like for…

[ February 28, 2010; March 7, 2010; March 14, 2010; March 21, 2010; March 28, 2010; ] .
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place – Chicago, IL

The DuSable Museum of African American History, the first and oldest institution of its kind in the country, has been dedicated to the collection, preservation, interpretation…

[ March 8, 2010; April 12, 2010 to April 13, 2010. May 10, 2010 to May 11, 2010. ] .
The Field Museum
1400 South Lake Shore Drive – Chicago, IL

The Field Museum showcases a variety of biological and anthropological collections exhibited in programs such as Real Pirates, The Aztec World, Man-Eaters of Tsavo, Un…

[ February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010. March 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010. April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010. ] .
Chicago museums, cultural centers, and libraries that are free and open to the public every day of the year, including…

Chicago Center for Green Technology
Chicago Cultural Center
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
The Museum of Contemporary Photography
National Museum of Mexican Art
The Newberry Library
Oriental Institute Museum
The Renaissance Society
Smart Museum of Art
Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows
- see post for more details…

[ February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010. March 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010. April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010. ] .
Chicago public galleries that are free and open to the public every day of the year, including…

ArchiCenter
Center for Book & Paper Arts Gallery
City Gallery
Illinois State Museum: Chicago Gallery
Intuit: Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
- see post for more details…

[ February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010. March 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010. April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010. ] .
Chicago zoos, gardens, parks, and conservatories that are free and open to the public every day of the year, including…

Chicago Botanic Garden
Garfield Park Conservatory
Lincoln Park Conservatory
Lincoln Park Zoo
Millennium Park
Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park
- see post for more details…

[ February 25, 2010; 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. March 4, 2010; 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. March 11, 2010; 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. March 18, 2010; 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. March 25, 2010; 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] .
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue – Chicago, IL

Visitors enjoy free admission from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. every Thursday thanks to Target Free Thursday Evenings…

[ February 24, 2010; 1:00 pm; March 3, 2010; 1:00 pm; March 10, 2010; 1:00 pm; March 17, 2010; 1:00 pm; March 24, 2010; 1:00 pm; ] .
Glessner House Museum
1800 South Prairie Avenue – Chicago, IL

Glessner House Museum is a National Historic Landmark that offers guided tours, lectures, and other special programs to interpret the themes of art, architecture, and…

[ February 26, 2010 to February 28, 2010. March 5, 2010 to March 7, 2010. March 12, 2010 to March 14, 2010. March 19, 2010 to March 21, 2010. March 26, 2010 to March 28, 2010. ] .
InstaGreeter Booth @ Visitor Information Center
Chicago Cultural Center
77 East Randolph Street – Chicago, IL

A free one hour tour of downtown Chicago; perfect for visitors with free time or those unable to pre-register with Chicago Greeter. This free, on-the-spot Chicago Greeter service…

[ March 2, 2010; March 9, 2010; March 16, 2010; March 23, 2010; March 30, 2010; ] .
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 North Lake Shore Drive – Chicago, IL

The Museum’s four floors are filled with extraordinary medical artifacts, as well as paintings and sculptures that interpret the primitive and modern healing practices of Eastern and Western civilizations…

[ February 26, 2010; March 5, 2010; March 12, 2010; March 19, 2010; March 26, 2010; ] .
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
Wilder Park
220 Cottage Hill – Elmhurst, IL

The Lizzadro Museum displays gemstone treasures created by ancient craftsmen as well as by contemporary artists. The building itself is a gem, designed to…

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Lurie Garden
Millennium Park
55 North Michigan Avenue – Chicago, IL

Learn more about the Lurie Garden during free 20-minute guided walks with University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners. Discover…

[ February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010. March 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010. April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010. ] .
Macy’s on State Street
111 North State Street – Chicago, IL

Take a complimentary self-guided, self-paced audio tour of the State Street store’s flagship icons: The Great Clocks, The Tiffany Ceiling and the Walnut Room…

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Millennium Park Welcome Center
201 East Randolph Street – Chicago, IL

Take a tour with a Millennium Park Greeter and learn more about the art and architecture of the Park. Space is limited to 10 people only…

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Millennium Park Welcome Center
201 East Randolph Street – Chicago, IL

Take a tour with a Millennium Park Greeter and learn more about the art and architecture of the Park. Space is limited to 10 people only…

[ March 2, 2010; March 9, 2010; March 16, 2010; March 23, 2010; March 30, 2010; ] .
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue – Chicago, IL

One of the nation’s largest facilities devoted to the art of our time, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) offers exhibitions of the most thought-provoking art created since…

[ January 25, 2010 to January 29, 2010. February 8, 2010; February 14, 2010; March 18, 2010; April 19, 2010 to April 23, 2010. ] .
Museum of Science and Industry
57th Street and Lake Shore Drive – Chicago, IL

Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, one of the largest science museums in the world, is home to more than 35,000 artifacts and nearly 14 acres of hands-on exhibits designed to…

[ March 11, 2010; March 18, 2010; March 25, 2010; April 1, 2010; April 8, 2010; ] .
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 North Cannon Drive – Chicago, IL

Offering the public much more than dioramas and taxidermied animals, the permanent exhibitions include a Butterfly Haven, an interactive…

[ June 14, 2010 to June 18, 2010. September 13, 2010 to September 14, 2010. September 20, 2010 to September 21, 2010. September 27, 2010 to September 28, 2010. ] .
John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive – Chicago, IL

At Shedd Aquarium, animals connect you to the living world, inspiring you to make a difference. On our Community Discount Days, general admission is free. Includes the…