Chicago History Museum

Billed as the city’s oldest cultural institution, the Chicago History Museum has a collection of over 23 million objects and documents. Housed in a beautiful, federal-style building that dates to 1932, the museum is the perfect place to learn more about the Windy City’s wealth of history. In addition to its expansive permanent collection, the museum hosts a range of temporary exhibitions, which focus on topics ranging from food and design to music and architecture. The Chicago History Museum’s busy events calendar also includes tours, talks, themed happy hours, and more.

The Chicago History Museum can be seen during Lincoln Park neighborhood tours. It can also be visited as part of the Chicago Explorer Pass scheme, or discovered independently.

• Tickets to the Chicago History Museum can be booked online in advance of your visit.
• Children under the age of 18 who are Illinois residents can visit for free; children aged 12 and under from other states also have free entry.
• Luggage, large bags, shopping bags, and other bulky items are prohibited, and must be left at the coat check.
• The on-site North & Clark Café serves up breakfast, coffee, Chicago-style hot dogs, burgers, and other hearty dishes.
• The museum is fully accessible for wheelchair users and offers a wide array of accessible amenities; wheelchairs are also available to rent.

To reach the Chicago History Museum via public transportation, take the Brown Line to Sedgwick station or the Red Line to Clark/Division station, both of which are roughly a 10-minute walk away. Alternatively, the museum is served by the 22, 36, 72, 73, 151, and 156 bus lines, and can be reached on foot, by car, and by bike.

The Chicago History Museum is open from morning to mid-afternoon on Monday and Wednesday–Saturday, but opens until late in the evening on Tuesday, with a shorter day on Sunday. The café opens during the day only and closes earlier than the museum.

Conveniently, the Chicago History Museum is just a quick walk from other Lincoln Park highlights. Combine your visit with a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo, venture to North Avenue Beach, or drop by the Ulysses S. Grant Monument.

Yes, it’s worth visiting the Chicago History Museum, especially if you’re interested in learning about past events that shaped the city and general American history. The museum houses around 22 million items, including exhibits that tell the story of the Great Chicago Fire, as well as the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Admission to the Chicago History Museum is usually between US$17–19, with discounted rates for seniors and students and free entry for children 12 and under. Opening hours vary depending on the days of the week, but the museum is typically closed on Mondays.

The museum's bag policy stipulates that bags should not exceed dimensions of 13 x 12 x 4 inches for admission into galleries and public areas. Visitors must carry bags at their front or side rather than on their backs for ease of movement and safety at the museum.

No, there isn’t any parking available at the Chicago History Museum. Instead, you can drive one block north of the museum to 1730 North Stockton Drive, near Clark and LaSalle streets. Here, it costs US$10 to park with museum validation. Alternatively, you can reach the museum by buses #22, #36, or #72.

With 22 million exhibits, you could spend a whole day at the museum and scratch the surface of what there is to discover. However, the average visit takes around 2 hours to walk around all the galleries and get a good overview of the city’s history.

Yes, photographing at the Chicago History Museum is allowed for personal use. However, video recording during tours is prohibited to preserve the experience's integrity. It's advisable to enjoy interactive exhibits and guided narratives without electronic distractions to fully immerse yourself in learning about the city's history.