Museum in Chicago

A visit to a museum in Chicago is the best way to step into the past and understand the city’s culture. From art and history to science and innovation, museums here offer something for every interest. MakeMyTrip lists 419 must-visit museums in Chicago for 2026, making it easy to plan your trip. Exhibits are well curated, with guided tours and interactive displays that keep both adults and children engaged. Whether you’re fascinated by ancient artefacts or modern installations, each museum tells a story worth exploring. With Chicago museum prices starting from INR 449, spending a few hours inside is affordable yet highly rewarding. This January, discover a new side of Chicago with MakeMyTrip’s handpicked museums.

Insights into The Incredible History of The City: Top Museums in Chicago

Chicago is packed with various iconic attractions, historic landmarks, insightful museums, vibrant festivals, fantastic arts, high-end restaurants, hotels, and a lot more that attract visitors from all around the world. The city offers a diverse range of experiences, including world-famous art, history, science, and architecture.

Chicago museums are among the most visited places in the city. They cater to the diverse interests of visitors. The city is home to several interesting museums offering insights into natural history, art, culture, science, and more. For instance, the Chicago History Museum makes you delve into the incredible past of the city.

Explore the Diverse Museums of Chicago

Art Museums

Art Institute of Chicago

The oldest and largest art museum in Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, comprises an extensive collection, including American Gothic, The Old Guitarist, and Nighthawks. It features an impressive art collection ranging from sculpture to photography, impressionist to modern, and the appealing Thorne Miniature Rooms. The diverse range of impressionism, Asian and African art, and modern and contemporary art ranks it among the most visited Chicago museums.

• Address: The Art Institute of Chicago is located in downtown Chicago and is considered among the top Chicago Museums. The museum is situated next to Millennium Park with entrances on East Monroe Street and South Michigan Avenue. The museum is conveniently accessible via Brown, Orange, Green, Purple, and Pink lines with stops above the ground at Wabash or Adams and Red and Blue Lines with stops underground at Monroe.
• Hours of Operation: The museum is open Wednesday to Monday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and closed on Tuesdays.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

One of the best Chicago Museums and among the largest contemporary art museums globally, the Museum of Contemporary Art was established in 1967. The museum is best known for the debut exhibitions of Jeff Koons. It is considered among the famous museums in Chicago, dedicated to post-1945 art, with an impressive collection of sculpture, painting, performance, photography, and video art. The museum showcases minimalism, pop art, and postmodernism, including the notable collection from Alexander Calder, Jasper Johns, and others.

• Address: The Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, and is recognised among the leading Chicago museums. The museum is easily reachable via the CTA’s El train or bus. From the Red, Brown, and Purple Line, exit at the Chicago station and walk towards Lake Michigan; the museum is around a 15-minute walk away. Bus routes 3, 66, and 151 also have stops near the museum.
• Hours of Operation: The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, on Tuesdays, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and closed on Mondays.

History Museums

Chicago History Museum

When it comes to Chicago Museums, the Chicago History Museum tops the list of leading museums in the city. The collection takes you back in time through its historic exhibitions, interactive displays, and artefacts. The museum was established in 1856 and is among the oldest cultural institutions and Chicago museums. It has a significant collection of Abraham Lincoln’s life-related artefacts, such as items worn by him and from his deathbed. You can also explore the items recovered from the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.

• Address: The Chicago History Museum is located at 1601 N Clark Street, Chicago, at the corner of North Avenue. This museum is easily accessible via public transport through bus lines, including 22 Clark, 36 Broadway, 72 North, and 73 Armitage.
• Hours of Operation: The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, on Sunday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and closed on Mondays.

DuSable Black History Museum & Education Center

The museum is the oldest independent Black History Museum in the United States and is considered among the top Chicago museums for gaining insights into history. DuSable black History Museum & Education Center is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and study of the history, culture, and art of African Americans and the African diaspora. The leading history museum in Chicago comprises more than 15,000 art pieces, artefacts, and historical memorabilia covering the contribution of Black Americans in US wars, the history of slavery, and Chicago-based Black history.

• Address: The museum is located at 740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, and is easily reachable by public transportation and car. One of the best Chicago museums, the DuSable Black History Museum, is located in Hyde Park near Washington Park. Bus routes 55 Garfield and 6 Cottage Grove run near the museums. The museum is just a short walk away from the Green Line’s Garfield stop.
• Hours of Operation: The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and closed on Mondays.

Science & Technology Museums

Museum of Science and Industry (MSI)

The Museum of Science and Industry, also known as the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, is among the top interactive Chicago museums. It is placed in the former Palace of Fine Arts in Hyde Park. The museum offers an unmatched fusion of interactive science, sensory-rich discovery, architectural beauty, and historical profundity. You will get a hands-on learning experience about navigating a submarine, discovering a human body, and creating a tornado.

• Address: The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is located at 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, and is considered one of the prominent Chicago museums. The museum is situated in Hyde Park, so you can easily access it via public transport, rideshare, or taxi. Take a train towards Indiana or downtown and then take an exit at the 57th Street station. Bus routes including 6, 10, and 28 serve the museum.
• Hours of Operation: The museum is open Monday to Friday 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturdays 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and Sundays 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Adler Planetarium

The Adler Planetarium was founded by Max Adler in 1930 and is one of the most visited Chicago museums. The museum campus offers wonderful views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline. It is dedicated to astrophysics and astronomy with an aim to inspire understanding and exploration of the universe. The museum takes you on an inspiring journey through immersive sky shows, public annotations under the stars, hands-on labs, and historic instruments, ranking it among the best Chicago museums and planetariums.

• Address: The Planetarium is situated on the Chicago Museum campus that also houses the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum. It is located at DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, on the edge of Northerly Island, which is easily accessible via Metra train and CTA L Train. For the CTA L Train, take the Green, Orange, or Red Line to Roosevelt Station and then board Bus 146, which will drop you at the Planetarium.
• Hours of Operation: The museum is open Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and is usually closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Cultural & Speciality Museums

Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture

Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture is the largest museum in the US dedicated to Lithuanian culture and one of the top Chicago museums, offering insights into history, culture, and immigrant experience. The museum showcases an enriching combination of history, culture, and community immersion, and also hosts workshops, including traditional celebrations and Easter-egg decoration.

• Address: The museum is located at 6500 S. Pulaski Rd in the West Lawn near Midway Airport in the Museum Campus on Lake Michigan. You can board local buses and trains to access the Museum Campus. Take the Orange Line to Pulaski Station, and then take Bus 53 A to 65th St & Pulaski, and a short walk to the museum.
• Hours of Operation: The museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Sundays, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Swedish American Museum

The leading cultural museum in Chicago, the Swedish American Museum preserves and celebrates Swedish-American culture and heritage. One of the most perceptive Chicago museums, immersed in history, celebrates the Swedish American culture in Chicago. It comprises the engaging We Are America exhibit, gallery spaces, genealogy centre, and immersive Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration. This museum is an impressive fusion of cultural storytelling, interactive history, and fun.

• Address: The Swedish American Museum is located at 5211 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, in the heart of Andersonville (Little Sweden). The museum is effortlessly accessible via public transportation. Take CTA bus 22 (Clark), 92 (Foster), or the CTA Red Line L that stops at Berwyn.
• Hours of Operation: The museum opens Tuesday to Friday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday to Sunday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and is closed on Mondays.

Children’s Museums

Chicago Children’s Museum

A playful place to satisfy the curiosity of children, the Chicago Children’s Museum is among the famous museums in Chicago, especially for young minds. The 3-story museum offers immersive exhibits and a hands-on, fun experience appealing to children from all around the world. The popular exhibits include the Kovler Family Climbing Schooner, Tinkering Lab, Skyline, Kids Town, WaterWays, and Dinosaur Expeditions.

• Address: The best museum in Chicago is located at 700 East Grand Avenue, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL. The museum is conveniently accessible via public transport options. CTA buses that serve this route include 2, 29, 65, 66, and 124.
• Hours of Operation: The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Bronzeville Children’s Museum

Bronzeville Children’s Museum is the first and only African American Children’s museum in the US. One of the most famous museums in Chicago offers interactive displays featuring Cloud Buster, Water City, Dinosaur Expedition, and more. The museum is a flawless blend of engaging displays, creativity, innovative activities, and fun learning, earning it the tag of the best Chicago Museums for kids.

• Address: The Bronzeville Children’s Museum is located at 9301 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States, and is easily accessible via public transport options. The museum is served by the South Side bus and is also reachable via nearby train lines and bus transfers.
• Hours of Operation: This museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.