Museum Free Days

Plan your time in Chicago carefully and you can save yourself admission fees to some of the city's major museums. However, keep in mind that you will still have to pay for special exhibitions and films on free days.

Monday: Adler Planetarium (Sept-Feb only), Field Museum of Natural History (Sept-Feb only), Museum of Science and Industry (Sept-Feb only), Shedd Aquarium (Sept-Feb, Oceanarium admission extra)

Tuesday: Adler Planetarium (Sept-Feb only), Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History (Sept-Feb only), International Museum of Surgical Science, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Science and Industry (Sept-Feb only), Terra Museum of American Art, Shedd Aquarium (Sept-Feb, Oceanarium admission extra)

Thursday: DuSable Museum of African-American History, Chicago Children's Museum (5-8pm only), Terra Museum of American Art

Friday: Spertus Museum

Always Free: Chicago Cultural Center, Garfield Park Conservatory, David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Lincoln Park Zoo, Martin D'Arcy Gallery of Art, Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Newberry Library

The Earth, the Sky & the Sea: The Big Three in the Grant Park Museum Campus

With terraced gardens and broad walkways, the Museum Campus at the southern end of Grant Park makes it easy for pedestrians to visit three of the city's most beloved institutions: our natural history museum, aquarium, and planetarium. The campus is about a 15- to 20-minute walk from the Loop, and is easily reached by bus or subway (a trolley runs from the Roosevelt Rd. El stop). To get to the Museum Campus from the Loop, head east across Grant Park on East Balbo Drive from South Michigan Avenue, and then trek south along the lakeshore path to the museums. Or, you can make your approach on the path that begins at 11th Street from South Michigan Avenue. Follow 11th to the walkway that spans the Metra tracks. Cross Columbus Drive and then pick up the path that will take you under Lake Shore Drive and into the Museum Campus. The CTA no. 146 bus will take you from downtown to all three of these attractions. Call tel. 836-7000 (from any city or suburban area code) for the stop locations and schedule.

Museums for Less--If you're planning on visiting lots of Chicago museums, you should invest in a CityPass, a prepaid ticket that gets you into the biggest attractions (The Art Institute, Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, and Hancock Observatory). The cost at press time was $49 for adults and $38 for children, which is about 50% cheaper than paying all the museums' individual admission fees. You can buy a CityPass at any of the museums listed above, or purchase one online before you get to town (www.citypass.net). Also, see the "Museum Free Days" box, above, for schedules of when some of these museums are free.