Museums and galleries in Chicago

446 museums and galleries in Chicago, from the big collections to small independent spaces.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 446.

Photo: Photo taken in 1998 by Wikipedia user Soakologist . No rights claimed or…, Public domain

SeeAttractionLoop
The Skydeck
Once the tallest building in the world, the Sears Tower (officially renamed the Willis Tower) now has to settle for second-highest in the Americas alone, behind New York City's One World Trade Center (and even those are after a semantic battle with Toronto and the CN Tower). The Hancock Observatory (see Near North) has a nicer view of the city, but the Sears Tower offers an incredible view of its own from "The Ledge", which lets visitors walk out in a transparent balcony suspended 1,353 feet above the street. To avoid the crowds, visit after 4PM.
Apr-Sep 9AM-10PM, Oct-Mar 10AM-8PM; open every day of the year, including holidays$22, $11 children; express line tickets $30 · Wheelchair accessible
SeeViewpointNear North
360 Chicago
Hancock Observatory
360-degree view from the 94th floor. Not quite as high as the Sears Tower Skydeck, but with a better view, and from January to March, an ice-skating rink! For drinks, see the Signature Room below.
9AM-11PM$22 adults (12 and over), $15 children (3-11) · Wheelchair accessible
SeeNature museumNear South
Field Museum of Natural History
The largest museum on the campus; highlights include SUE, the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton in the world, and the man-eating Tsavo lions. Part of the collection came directly from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, adding a layer of intrigue to all of those dusty old animals. Another highlight is the great, kid-friendly Egyptian exhibit, and the Hall of Gems will impress, too. Traveling exhibitions tend to be excellent, so this is one place where it's worth shelling out for the extra shows.
9AM-5PM daily, last admission 4PM; closed Dec 25General admission $30 adults, $23 children, $27 students; Admission including some/all special exhibits is $43 adults, $32 children, $38 students · Wheelchair accessible
SeeArt museumLoop
Art Institute of Chicago
One of the premier museums in the U.S. — and with the opening of the sensational new Modern Wing, it's one of the largest, too. Set aside a whole day and arrive early! Iconic pieces on display include "American Gothic" by Grant Wood (the stoic farm couple), "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper (the late-night diner), Georges Seurat's pointillist masterpiece "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte". The Art Institute also boasts the world's best collection of Impressionist painting outside of France. But there's a lot more to discover, including a great selection of early 20th-century painting, architecture, and photography, as well as archaeological finds covering 5,000 years of art and cultural history.
10:30AM-5PM, Thu to 8PM; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day$32 adult, $26 children over 13 and seniors, free children 13 and under; free to Illinois residents Th after 5PM
SeeMusic museumNear South
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation
Chess Records Studio
A major blues hotspot where Muddy Waters, Ahmad Jamal, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Bo Diddley, Etta James, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Ramsey Lewis, and many other greats recorded during Chicago's bluesiest period. The Rolling Stones also recorded here, paying tribute in their instrumental "2120 S Michigan Avenue." Public tours.
Mon-Fri noon-3PM, Sat noon-2PM
SeeLoop
Grant Park
Right at the center of Chicago, this has been a park space for almost the entire history of the city. Most citywide events and festivals (see below) are held in Grant Park and the Petrillo Bandshell. The centerpiece of the park is Buckingham Fountain (10AM-11PM), which is sometimes accompanied by music and colored lights (8-11PM, May-Sep). There are also tennis courts, softball fields, and a walking trail near the lake. Millennium Park is to the north and the Museum Campus is to the south, so there is a large area to wander.
6AM-11PM dailyEntrance to the park and most events & festivals is generally free, although some concerts do have an admission charge; in that case, admission to other areas of the park is still free · Built 1844 · Heritage listed
SeeHistoric buildingNear North
Water Tower
In 1871, when Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over the lantern in her barn — or was framed for the act, depending on who you ask — the Gothic Revival spires of Water Tower were only two years old. Today, along with the Pumping Station on the other side of the street, the Water Tower is the last, dream-like symbol of the Old Chicago that disappeared in the Fire. Surrounded by hotels and colossal department stores, it's also the icon of the new city that arose. At night, the Water Tower is lit from within, and it's a memorable sight. Inside, the vintage machinery is long gone (along with the water), and the plain interior is occasionally used as a gallery space.
Open now · closes 7 pm
DoParkNear South
Soldier Field
Home of the NFL's Chicago Bears, and from 2020 home (again) to Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer. If you'd like to see a Bears game, then you have something in common with many Chicagoans; there's no point in listing ticket prices, because they sell out long before the season starts. On the other hand, if you're a soccer fan, you have a much better chance of getting in for a Fire game, even though that team plans on using only the lower seating bowl for most of its games. The original Soldier Field was built in 1924 to honor veterans of the First World War, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. By 2002, the stadium was in dire need of renovations, and the Bears promised to preserve the majestic colonnades of the old stadium. However, when the renovations were complete, what appeared to be a giant spaceship had landed at midfield. The amenities have improved, and it really is a nice facility... on the inside. On the outside, it's hard to say what it is, other than probably the strangest-looking sports venue in America. (It's not a Historic Place any more, having been stripped of that designation in 2006.) Tours are available during the week, M-F 9AM-5PM, by phone appointment; $15 adults, $10 students, $7 seniors, $4 children.
SeeHistory museumNear West Side
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
UIC was built on top of the original Hull House, where the prolific writer and reformer Jane Addams lived and worked to help people in need. This museum is dedicated to her memory in two surviving buildings from the complex, now absorbed into the UIC campus, and features exhibits on local history and social justice throughout the world. Occasionally hosts speakers during the day, and offer a free soup lunch during the discussion.
Tue-Fri 10AM-4:50PM, Sat 10AM-3PMfree
SeeArt galleryLoop
Chicago Cultural Center
Built in 1897 as Chicago's first public library, the building now houses the city's Visitor Information Center, galleries, and exhibit halls. Worth a visit to see the beautiful interior — the ceiling of Preston Bradley Hall includes a 38-foot Tiffany glass dome, and the north wing includes the impressive Grand Army of the Republic Rotunda. Of late, amid various city-approved art and music events, some surprisingly good theater has been performed here.
Mon-Fri 10AM-7PM, Sat-Sun 10AM-5PM, closed holidaysFree
SeePlanetariumNear South
Adler Planetarium
It's the smallest of the three museums, but the oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere still packs a lot of fun. There are some interactive exhibits on the second floor, a scale model of the solar system, a few space rocks, and two high-tech dome theaters with nifty "star shows" throughout the day. Adler After Dark, on the third Thursday of each month, runs 6PM-10PM and features cocktails, a DJ, and wild, unfettered use of telescopes.
Mon-Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat Sun 10AM-4:30PMGeneral admission $19 adult, $8 children or $35/$28 including shows
SeeArt museumNear North
Museum of Contemporary Art
Contemporary art from around the world. The MCA has a great location and plenty of financial backing, but it's still fighting for recognition in the museum world; while not an upper-tier institution as yet, that has resulted in some interesting exhibitions. There isn't much of a permanent collection, so check what's on before you go. Also, Marisol is the museums' Latin- inspired all day café, that's quickly become a draw in a part of Streeterville, not exactly known for its cuisine.
Tue Fri 10AM-9PM, Wed Thu Sat Sun 10AM-5PM, Mon closedSuggested admission $15 adults, $8 students/teachers/seniors, free for youth 18 and under. Tuesdays only: free for IL residents · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHyde Park
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
No tour of Chicago's museums is complete without a visit to this one. Spend hours upon hours looking at really cool stuff you never even knew you didn't know about. So much to do, so little time. You can return for free the following day if you take your ticket to "Will Call" on the way out on your first day. Great for kids, with many hands-on exhibits and the famous Coal Mine; adults will enjoy the display of the German U-boat 'U-505'. The immense, beautiful building was itself built as part of the White City in 1893, and is the last of the grand buildings left in Hyde Park.
9:30AM-4PM daily; some days until 5:30PM, including most of summer; closed 25 Dec$25.95 adult, $14.95 child
SeeHistory museumLincoln Park-Old Town
Chicago History Museum
Chicago Historical Society
A creative urban history museum. Exhibits include The Pioneer, the first railroad locomotive to operate in Chicago, and the bed upon which Abraham Lincoln died; more fun for kids is the Chicago-style Hot Dog showcase, which supplies all the giant plastic ingredients you'll need to turn yourself (or your little brother) into a life-sized hot dog (no ketchup, of course). They also host regular tours of different CTA lines and walking tours of Lincoln Park and Old Town.
Mon-Sat 9:30AM-4:30PM, Sun noon-5PM$14 adults, children 12 and under are free · Wheelchair accessible
SeeLocal museumNear North
Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
A small museum spread over the five floors of the southwest tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Visitors can see displays on the history of Chicago's famously abused river, and also check out the machinery used for raising the bridge. Tower tours are Fridays and Saturdays at 11AM and 2:30PM beginning in June, book online. The bridge lift times depends on tides, but is usually between 10AM and 1PM on W and Su.
Mid-May to Oct: Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM;$5 - $10 donation recommended, tower tours $15
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Federal Reserve Bank Money Museum
Currency wonks can study various denominations and practice counterfeit detections. Guided tours every day at 1PM.
Mon-Fri 8:30AM-5PM, except bank holidaysFree · Free entry
SeeHyde Park
Oriental Institute Museum
The University of Chicago Oriental Institute has one of the best collections of ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern archeology in the world, which is moreover free, small, very well exhibited, and basically started by Indiana Jones. Some highlights include: much of the Assyrian "Fortress of Sargon," a colossal statue of King Tutankhamun, and the Mummy and Coffin of Meresamun. Visitors with a strong interest may want to devote several hours to pore over the dense exhibits, but the small museum can be quickly skimmed in 15 minutes.
Tue,Thu-Sat 10AM-6PM, Wed 10AM-8:30PM, Sun noon-6PMFree, suggested donation $7, $4 child
SeeHyde Park
Obama Presidential Center
A museum, library, and education project in Chicago to commemorate the presidency of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.
Campus: 6AM-9PM; museum and forum building: Mon 1-8PM, Tue-Sun 10AM-5PMAdult $30, child (3-11) $23; Illinois resident $26, resident child $15
SeeChildren museumNear North
Chicago Children's Museum
Hands-on exhibits for kids, including the popular Dinosaur Expedition.
10AM-5PM; Thu to 8PMAdmission $8, free Thursday after 5PM, free for children on the first Monday of every month · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistory museumNear West Side
National Hellenic Museum
Now housed in a beautiful glass building, the National Hellenic Museum sits neatly at the start of Greektown's best restaurants. Partnered with the Field Museum, they host many actual Greek relics and also support Greek and Greek-American artists.
Thu-Sun 10AM-4PM$10/adult, $8/concession, $7/child
SeeHistory museumWicker Park
The Polish Museum of America
Library and exhibitions on Polish heritage, both in Chicago and in Poland. It is home to the largest collection of memorabilia relating to Ignace Paderewski, and the museum is purportedly haunted by the once famous pianist.
Fri-Wed 11AM-4PM$5 adults, $4 children
SeeNature museumLincoln Park-Old Town
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Carefully positioned within walking distance of the Lincoln Park Zoo in hopes of being parents' second stop while they're in the area, the Notebaert Nature Museum is... okay. Exhibits are geared toward kids and are sometimes hands-on. The only consistent must-see is the butterfly haven.
Mon-Fri 9AM-4:30PM, Sat Sun 10AM-5PMAdults $9, children 3-12 $6, Th free · Entry 9 USD
SeeLocal museumLoop
Chicago Architecture Foundation
Runs numerous river cruises and themed architecture walks covering the Loop and other parts of the city, with offerings suitable for general audiences and people with specific interests. There are some small, informative exhibits inside their 224 S Michigan headquarters and a gift shop. Walking tours are usually $15, $12 for students/seniors.
Sat-Thu 9AM-6:30PM, Fri 9:30AM-7PMWheelchair accessible
SeeHistory museumNear North
Illinois Holocaust Museum Presents Experience360
The Skokie-based museum has a temporary exhibit here while its main building is under renovation.
10 am-5 pm$12 adults, $8 seniors and students, $6 children 5-11. Free on the last Wednesday of the month.
SeeMuseumNear South
The Glessner House Museum
A stately Arts & Crafts mansion from 1887, now fully restored and refurnished to its original Gilded Age atmosphere. The staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Tours Wed-Sun 1PM & 3PM$10 adults, $9 students/senior, $6 children; add $5 to visit the Clarke House as well. Wednesdays free
SeeArt museumPilsen
National Museum of Mexican Art
A lovely, small gallery full of vibrant colors and well-curated installations focused on understanding Mexican as well as Mexican-American history and culture through art. The museum serves as the center of the annual Day of the Dead celebration in the fall — this is a great time to visit to see all the brightly painted, skull-filled, and often humorous Ofrendas.
Tue-Sun 10AM-5PMFree
SeeHistory museumNear South
The Clarke House Museum
Built in 1836, this unassuming little white house is the oldest surviving structure in Chicago. Tours are available through the Glessner House, but it's free to walk around the lovely Women's Park & Gardens that surround it.
Tours Wed-Sun noon & 2PM$10 adults, $9 students/senior, $5 children; add $5 to visit the Glessner House as well. Wednesdays free
SeeHistory museumBridgeport-Chinatown
Chinese-American Museum of Chicago
A museum with exhibits on Chinese-American culture, history, and the community's contributions to American society. Long closed due to a fire, the museum has finally reopened 25 September 2010.
Tue-Fri 9:30AM-1:30PM, Sat Sun 10AM-5PMSuggested donation: $1-2
SeeMuseumWicker Park
Ukrainian National Museum
Almost certainly the best collection of Ukrainian ethnographic exhibits (musical instruments, traditional costumes, folk art, etc.) in the United States. Historical exhibits cover issues such as the famines under Stalin and the fallout after the Chernobyl meltdown. The museum also hosts an impressive library and archives for researchers, as well as occasional Ukrainian-related art exhibitions.
Mon-Wed by appointment, Thu-Sun 11AM-4PMFree, suggested donation $5
SeeMuseumLoop
Museum of Contemporary Photography
A stimulating and innovative forum for the collection, creation, and examination of contemporary image-making in its camera tradition and in its expanded vocabulary of digital processes. Affiliated with Columbia College Chicago.
Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-8PM, Sun noon-5PMFree · Free entry
SeeMedicine museumLincoln Park-Old Town
International Museum of Surgical Science
Housed in a historic mansion, the museum contains four floors of exhibits dedicated to the history of medicine and surgery and is filled with artwork and artifacts ranging from Incan surgical tools circa 2000 BCE to state-of-the-art prosthetic joints. Of special interest to those in the medical field, the collection appeals to anyone interested in history, art, science and architecture.
Mon-Fri 9:30AM-5PM, Sat Sun 10AM-5PMAdult $25; senior, student, active military $18; child 4-13 $15, child under 4 free · Wheelchair accessible
SeeArt museumWicker Park
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art
This is a superb, lovingly curated collection of abstract and minimalist art by major Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American artists. The three permanent galleries represent not only Ukrainian heritage, but also one of Chicago's best and most underrated experiences for art lovers of any ethnicity.
Wed-Sun noon-4PMFree
SeeArt galleryBronzeville
South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC)
A community arts center open since 1940, which was for long the only place around where minority artists could exhibit their work. Today, the center's gallery (free and open to the public) focuses primarily on African-American art, especially art related to the South Side. The arts center also features occasional poetry readings.
Wed-Fri noon-5PM, Sat 9AM-5PM, Sun 1-5PMHeritage listed
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Chicago Mercantile Exchange Visitors Center
The 4th Floor Visitor Gallery is temporarily closed.
Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PMFree
SeeArt museumNear North
The Driehaus Museum
Adorning the first floor are decorative arts from the collection of the museum's namesake, Richard H. Driehaus, with plenty of Tiffany stained glass. But it's the restored 1883 mansion itself that garners glowing reviews; inside are 17 different types of marble, hand-painted ceilings, carved exotic wood wainscoting and other marks of superior 19th-century craftsmanship. If you're interested in historic architecture and interior design, this is still a hidden gem without crowds.
Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PMAdult $20, senior $15, student with ID $10, child 12 and under free, active military free
SeeArt museumNear North
Loyola University Museum of Art
Chicago Red Line
Right next to the Water Tower, LUMA is best known for its exhibits on sacred art and architecture, but it occasionally veers into modern art as well, such as an installation of Andy Warhol's silver balloons.
Wed-Sun 11AM-6PM, to 8PM Tue$6, free Tu
SeeHyde Park
Smart Museum of Art
The Smart museum is small, but has an excellent collection, thoughtfully exhibited. Staff is very friendly.
Fall–Spring Tue-Wed,Fri 10AM-4:30PM, Thu 10AM-8PM, Sat Sun 10AM-5PM; summer Tue-Sun 10AM-5PMFree
SeeBronzeville
DuSable Museum of African-American History
Chicago's museum of African-American history is named after the first settler of Chicago, a Haitian named Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. The museum often has excellent and moving temporary exhibits.
Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM$10, $7 students/seniors, $3 children 6-11, free for children under 6; free for everyone on Su
DoParkPilsen
Harrison Park
If you have kids in tow and they have been patient through the National Museum of Mexican Art (or they need to burn off some energy before going in), you might reward them with some monkey time right next door at Harrison Park, which has a big play-lot with swings, slides, jungle gyms and more.
SeeMemorialLoop
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Designed in coordination with the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in the Near South, this waterfront plaza features a timeline from the war, a list of Illinois veterans who were killed in action, and a nice vantage point toward a few iconic buildings down the river. After crossing over the river from the Near North, turn and take the stairs down to the lower level.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Chicago (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.