Free Museums in Crestwood

"Installation view, Duro Olowu: Seeing Chicago, MCA Chicago Feb 29-May 10, 2020 Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago. The Museum of Contemporary Art is always free for visitors under age 18, visitors with disabilities and their caregivers receive free admission, members of the military and police and fire departments and veterans, and Illinois elementary and high school teachers. To encourage more people to visit and visit often, the MCA has a pay-what-you-can policy — no one will be turned away."

"Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art, just off the Magnificent Mile, explores, exhibits, and collects art created since 1945. The museum is dedicated to allowing the public "to directly experience the work and ideas of living artists and understand the historical, social, and cultural context of the art of our time." It also puts a major emphasis on diverse voices that communicate through art. Continue to 5 of 10 below."

"The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is one of the biggest contemporary art museums in the world. The MCA's collection focuses on post World War II visual art; works in the collection include pieces by Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Jasper Johns, Kara Walker, and Alexander Calder. The MCA once held the United States debut of Frida Kahlo's exhibit."

"The National Museum of Mexican Art is one of the only Chicago museums of art that showcases the art, culture and history of the Latino, Mexican and Chicano communities. Founded in 1982, it now counts some 10,000 pieces in its collections. These range from pre-Hispanic and pre-Colombian objects made by indigenous Mexican groups – including the Maya, Mezcala and Toltec – to folk art, textiles and paintings."

"The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago is home to more than 5,000 pieces by Mexican, Latino, and Chicano artists. It is considered the largest Latino cultural institution in the United States and the only Latino museum to have received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. The National Museum of Mexican Art is perhaps best known for its annual Día de los Muertos exhibit."

"Explore the natural world at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park|© Serhii Chrucky / Alamy Stock Photo. In a city with one of the most famous urban landscapes in the world, there’s a need for Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – an institution that aims to help nurture a connection between the people of Chicago and the natural environment. Besides the beautiful permanent exhibits like the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, the museum is known for hosting stellar family-friendly events, from critter meet-and-greets to kombucha-brewing workshops and yoga classes suitable for all ages and levels."

"Located in Lincoln Park, the Peggy Notebaert Museum is dedicated to expanding knowledge of nature and environmental science. While this might sound advanced for a young child, the museum is actually very toddler-friendly with numerous hands-on exhibits. From an up close visit with critters to an obligatory “burn some energy” play space, the Peggy Notebaert is a gem in the city."

"The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has been a Chicago staple for more than 160 years!. Located in Lincoln Park, the museum is dedicated to educating visitors about our natural world, conservation, preservation, and restoration through hands-on fun. Toddlers love exhibits and museum areas such as:"

"Smart Museum of Artart Museum of Art in the University of Chicago campus, Illinois has a permanent collection of over 15,000 items. It is displayed in four permanent exhibition galleries which include Modern art, Asian Art, European Art and Contemporary Art. These collections are also used for academic purposes and are taught at the University."

"In the warmer months, kids of all ages will love visiting the outdoor sculpture garden and all year long families can try their hands and Family Day on the first Saturday of the month. Located on the University of Chicago campus, students, faculty and alumni often contribute to the exhibitions."

"Founded in 1974, the Smart Museum of Art is part of the University of Chicago and is home to acclaimed special exhibitions and a permanent collection that spans five thousand years of artistic creation."

"Now open Located just across from Millennium Park, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is dedicated to educating the public about military history. The unique museum hosts a permanent exhibition on the Medal of Honor and is currently showing a special exhibit about Allied forces during World War II."

"The Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago is dedicated to highlighting and studying military history. Founded in 2003, the museum now has more than 115,000 objects, 67,000 books, and 9,000 photos. The collection includes rare military memorabilia, glass negatives, posters, artwork, and videos."

"Museum admission is always free for anyone with an active military ID, the Chicago police and fire departments and children under 18. General free admission days for 2020 are:. April 6 – Centennial of WWI"

"Nomad Chicago is a “sanctuary for the wandering soul.” They are woman-owned and give back in a big way to underserved communities in the city. And I love everything they represent. They offer fresh-roasted beans from Metric Coffee, homemade syrups and have oat and coconut milk alternatives."

"A new daytime café serving quality coffee and deli sandwiches has come to Bronzeville. Owner DeCarlo Pittman, an industry vet with almost two decades of experience, and chef Donte Humphrey prepare sandwiches that range from the classic Italian and egg salad to a spicy fig creation. The menu also offers breakfast items plus salads and smoothies for healthy eating."

"The cafe complementing HaiSous has an unfair advantage thanks to Thai Dang’s creative Vietnamese food with banh mi sandwiches and more. But the Pilsen cafe also uses coffee from Dang’s family in Vietnam producing some of the richest iced coffee in the city. View this post on Instagram"

"Located in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park, this zoo offers free, family-friendly entertainment year-round including the festive Zoolights around the holidays (reservations are required for all visits though). The sprawling grounds are seamlessly woven into the park’s landscape, balancing open, natural spaces and numerous animal exhibits. If you skip the pricey concessions (but maybe spring for a paddle boat ride), Lincoln Park Zoo is a great option to keep all ages occupied while staying on a budget."

"Home to an incredible array of animals, Lincoln Park Zoo lies just a short drive to the north of the center within the sprawling park of the same name. A firm favorite with locals and tourists alike, it has countless expansive exhibits and enclosures for you to explore which focus on different animals and ecosystems from around the world. One of the oldest zoos in North America, it was impressively founded in 1868 and now houses over 1,100 animals in total."

"Start your morning by visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo which has free admission and is one of the oldest zoos in the USA (opening in 1868). Plan to spend two hours (or more) exploring the zoo grounds."

"The Helen Brach Primate House is yet another extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo and is home to primates of varying shapes, sizes and colour. The area is made in a way to imitate the natural habitat for the primates to make them feel safe and familiar at the place that they are residing in. It was opened back in 1927 which finally underwent an extensive renovation in the year 1992."

"Lincoln Park Zoo is a renowned 35-acre zoo in Lincoln Park and a hotspot for tourists. It’s the zoo’s pavilion, designed to provide shelter for open-air on-site classes, that offers such a fantastically picturesque snap. With the design drawing inspiration from the appearance of a tortoise’s shell, the stunning curved wooden pavilion elegantly frames the Chicago skyline."

"Wright designed and built his first home in 1889, on the strength of a $5,000 loan from his then employer and mentor, seminal Chicago…"