Another holiday season has almost come and gone, but Chicago’s winter is just beginning.
Keep the winter blues away by taking advantage of one (or more!) of the many museums in the area. You can even visit some for free!
Museum exhibits
Beyond the Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges
Opens January 2
The DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago
Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence
Through January 5
The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair
Through January 5
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago
Storyland
Through January 13
Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview
Keep Calm and Carry On: Textiles on the Home Front in WWII Britain
Through January 26
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie
State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda
Through February 2
The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives (pictured)
Through May 4
Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Opening the Vaults: Wonders of the 1893 World’s Fair
Through September 7
The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
More museums
Chicago Children’s Museum
700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
Evanston History Center
225 Greenwood St., Evanston
Lake County Discovery Museum
27277 N. Forest Preserve Rd., Wauconda
Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art
40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th St., Chicago
Wilmette Historical Museum
609 Ridge Rd., Wilmette
Enjoy free or discounted days at…
The Art Institute of Chicago
Every Thursday from 5–8 p.m. for Illinois residents
Chicago Children’s Museum
Every Thursday from 5–8 p.m.
First Sunday of every month for visitors 15 and younger
The DuSable Museum of African American History
Every Sunday
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
First Friday of every month
Museum of Contemporary Art
Every Tuesday for Illinois residents
Museum of Science and Industry
January 6-10, 13-17, 20-24, 27-31
Shedd Aquarium
January 6-7, 11-14, 19-21, 24-28
Swedish American Museum
Second Tuesday of every month
Photo: J.B. Spector, Museum of Science and Industry
