Midwest free museum days 2024
If there’s one thing theCityMoms love to do, it’s finding deals whenever we can. And who doesn’t love a FREE activity? We’ve compiled a list of Midwest museums and what dates you can visit them for free.
Pro-tip: Your local library may have passes you can check out as well!
Here’s a breakdown of Midwest museums and when you can visit them for FREE:
Indiana
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Address: 3000 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208
January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 19: Presidents Day
June 16: Juneteenth Jamboree
September TBA: Fiesta de la Familia
December 24: Christmas Eve (10 a.m.–2 p.m.)
Conner Prairie Interactive History Park
Address: 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN 46038
Hang tight! Our friends at Conner Prairie told us that they’re still working on the calendar for 2024 and we’ll post those dates as soon as we get them.
Remember - children under the age of 2 receive free admission every day.
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
Address: 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Admission is free with a minimum donation of one non-perishable food item per guest.)
Children under 5 receive free admission every day of the year.
All Indiana college, university, and trade school students receive FREE admission with their school ID.
Indiana State Museum
Address: 650 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Free admission with a minimum donation of one non-perishable food item per guest.)
February 17: Presidents Day
June 15th: Juneteenth Celebration
Children 3 and under receive free admission every day of the year.
Indiana War Memorial Museum
Address: 431 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Admission is always free!
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Address: 4750 W. 16th St., Speedway, IN, 46224
While no free days are currently listed on their calendar, admission is always free for children under age 6, and for active duty military personnel.
Newfields and the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Address: 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Enjoy free admission on the first Thursday of every month
Children under age 6 receive free admission every day of the year.
LOOKING FOR MORE MIDWEST FUN?
Illinois
Adler Planetarium
Address: 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605
Free tickets every Wednesday evening from 4 – 10 p.m.
All tickets must be purchased online and in advance. Admission is always free for Illinois teachers (pre-K through 12).
Field Museum
Address: 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60605
Free admission for Illinois residents every Wednesday.
Illinois teachers (pre-K through 12th grade) and active military personnel receive free basic admission year-round.
Art Institute of Chicago
Address: 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
Upcoming free museum days for Illinois residents:
Weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays) Jan. 8 – March 22, 2024
To receive free admission tickets, Illinois residents must reserve them online in advance.
The museum is always free for Chicago teens under 18, all children under age 14, Link and WIC cardholders, active-duty military, and Illinois educators.
Shedd Aquarium
Address: 1200 S. DuSable Lk Shr Dr., Chicago, IL 60605
Free museum days for Illinois residents:
January 9 – 16, 23 – 25, 30, and 31
February 1, 6 – 8, 13 – 15, 20 – 22, and 27 – 29
Free admission on Tuesday evenings (5 p.m. – 9 p.m.) from March through June.
Advance reservations are required; no tickets will be available onsite. A $3-per-order transaction fee applies to Illinois Free Day tickets reserved online. All adults must provide proof of residency in person when redeeming tickets at the discounted rate.
Museum of Science and Industry
Address: 5700 S. DuSable Lk Shr Dr., Chicago, IL 60637
Illinois residents can receive free admission on the following days:
January 22 – 24 and 28 – 31
February 5 – 8, 11 – 15, 20 – 22, and 26 – 29
April 21
The Museum of Science and Industry is always free for United States military active-duty personnel and veterans, Illinois POWs, Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers, and Illinois teachers (Pre-K through 12th grade).
DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
Address: 740 E 56th Pl., Chicago, IL 60637
Free admission every Wednesday.
Admission is always free for military and first responders.
HITTING THE ROAD FOR SPRING BREAK?
We’ve got Midwest road trip destinations for your family
Ohio
Cincinnati Art Museum
Address: 953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45202
General admission is always free but some exhibitions may require paid tickets.
Contemporary Arts Center
Address: 44 E 6th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Admission is free! The Creativity Lab is a must-see for little ones.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Address: 50 E Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
The museum offers free admission on the fifth and third Sunday of each month plus MLK Day and Juneteenth.
Though no free days are listed, here are the free entry deets for a few more Ohio museums:
Ark Encounter (Free for kids under 10)
Creation Museum (Free for kids under 10)
American Sign Museum (Free for kids 12 and under with a paying adult)
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (Free for kids 3 and under)
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame (Free for kids 12 and under)
Taft Museum of Art (Children under 18 are free)
Wisconsin
Milwaukee Art Museum
Address: 700 N. Art Museum Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53202
Kids 12 and under are free! As well as Wisconsin K-12 teachers with a valid ID or pay stub.
Madison Children’s Museum
Address: 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI 53703
Admission is free on Thursdays from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Discovery World
Address: 500 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Kids 2 and under are free every day.
Michigan
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Address: 20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI 48124
Active U.S. military discount: Free admission year-round to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation or Greenfield Village
Sloan Museum of Discovery
Address: 1221 E. Kearsley St., Flint, Michigan 48503
Admission is free for Veterans, active military families, and teachers
That’s a wrap - so whether you’re a Midwest mama or just visiting, we hope you take some time to enjoy the art and culture these museums offer!
*Note: As more 2024 dates are added, we will be updating this list accordingly!
