Best Museums in Justice

"$15, $8 seniors, students and teachers, free members and age 18 and under; advanced registration required. Family Days on the second Saturday of each month give parents and kids an opportunity to dive into art using different mediums. The program has continued online during the pandemic."

"The Museum of Contemporary Art provides free museum days in Chicago every single Tuesday for Illinois residents. Always free for those under 18, MCA members, or who are members of the military, police, or fire department. And here’s a secret: year-round general admission is suggested."

"It was the first Latino museum in the country to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It has built its permanent collection to 10,000+ objects, making it one of the largest collections in the nation. The museum has remained free to all since originally opening in 1987."

"Daily story times and Critter Connections that let kids touch and feel animals keep families coming back to Peggy Notebaert. Those, and the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, where butterflies of all kinds, colors and sizes fly around and even land on visitors. Hands-on exhibits let kids learn about water, rivers, the environment and a climbing structure keeps them active."

"Chicago's Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is operated by the Chicago Academy of Sciences. The museum highlights Chicago's natural history. It is best known for its live butterfly house, which is both an exhibit for visitors and a laboratory that studies how to best preserve the region's population of butterflies."

"The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has the most hands-on activities of any museum in the city. They offer suggested donation days on July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12, August 19, and August 26."

"This center dedicated to the famous artist is located in Jefferson Park, and with its bright mural you can’t miss it. You can check out an iPod at the front desk for a self-guided tour, or visit the first Thursday of the month at 2pm for a thirty-minute guided tour."

"A powerful museum dedicated to African-American history, culture, and art, the DuSable Museum is a perfect place to take older kids and teens, although children ages 5 and up are welcome. Past exhibits have covered everything from the impact of Jewish scholars in African-American colleges to poetry and African-American soldiers in the Vietnam War."

"The DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago highlights African American history, culture, and art. Founded in 1961 as the Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, the DuSable Museum today has a collection comprised of more than 13,000 different objects to include works by Langston Hughes, St. Clair Drake, and W.E.B. Du Bois."

"Every Tuesday throughout the year, The DuSable Museum of African American History offers free admission to its Chicago museum. Children under 5 and DuSable members are also free."

"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."

"Photo courtesy of Courtesy of the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago. Photo by Chris Strong. No, it's not the University of Chicago waving its intellect at the rest of us (although it is on the campus), but rather this Hyde Park museum is named for brothers David and Alfred Smart, the original publishers of Esquire magazine."

"The Smart Museum of Art is scheduled to re-open April 8, 2021. These aren’t the only free things to do in Chicago!. Find more in our ultimate guide."

"The Water Tower Place-based family-friendly gallery serves as dedicated space for Dr. Seuss's artwork. Visitors may view the various collections--which include sculptures, illustrated art and "secret" art--and have the option to buy. Some of the works have never been exhibited before."

"Architect/Firm: ​​​​​​​Burnham & Root, 1888 and Frank Lloyd Wright, 1907The Loop The architectural masterpiece originally designed by Burnham & Root in 1888 is one of the most-recognized buildings in the city. Frank Lloyd Wright later re-envisioned its two-story mezzanine with an oriel staircase and glass ceiling to illuminate white marble with gold geometric patterning, which now covers darker, copper-plated ironwork. The commercial office's facade experiments with late Roman, Venetian, Moorish, and medieval-European elements."

"LaSalle St.Architects: Daniel Burnham & John Root/Frank Lloyd Wright. On the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1972, The Rookery is located in Chicago’s downtown Financial District. It was constructed during a transitional period in architectural history, using both load-bearing masonry and a skeletal frame, which are distinguishing elements of the Chicago School of Architecture."

"Grab lunch at a nearby café and browse the shops in The Loop. Make your way over to Millennium Park to see the famous Cloud Gate (a.ka. the bean). It’s usually busy during the day, but you might get lucky by going early in the morning before other tourists arrive."

"Remember that whole viral fiasco between Popeyes and Chick-Fil-A that happened last year about who had the best chicken sandwich?. Well it was all a shame because the true victor is Do-Rite’s decadent Donut and Chicken Sandwich. And if that doesn’t sound absolutely delicious to you, then well, maybe we can’t be friends."

"After the tour, get another perspective on the city’s architecture with a view from up above by visiting 360 Chicago, an observatory among the clouds, located in the John Hancock building. The observatory offers stunning views of the entire City of Chicago, as well as the coastline of Lake Michigan. It truly gives you a sense for the expanse of the lake, because it’s so big that it seems more like an ocean!"

"360 CHICAGO is the newly renovated observation deck of the iconic John Hancock Tower, located on Michigan Avenue. A visit here is both a great photo opportunity and a good chance to learn more about Chicago’s famous architecture."

"The Signature Room is on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building. The views over Navy Pier and the entire downtown area are nothing short of spectacular."

"Must Try:Banana Split If you are a chocolate lover, look no further than the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop located just steps from Michigan Avenue. Moments after entering, you will be offered samples of the fine chocolates to get your taste buds ready for the decadent dessert you are about to indulge in. Here, they serve ice cream sundaes large enough for four to share with toppings like hot fudge, caramel sauce, fresh strawberries, and homemade brownies."

"A post shared by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (@ghirardelli) on May 12, 2020 at 10:24am PDT. Their name is historic and their sundaes are world famous. Their scoops have old-fashioned written all over them, arriving at your table in a glass cup or bowl with a heaping dollop of whipped cream and always with a cherry on top."

"You know you’re in for something good when there’s a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef in the kitchen. And HotChocolate doesn’t disappoint. Order a cup of their ultra-rich hot chocolate, topped with a homemade marshmallow."

"Located in the Lincoln Park itself, the North Pond Nature Sanctuary is yet another one of the animal exhibits that is loved and adored not just by the locals but by the tourists alike. It is believed that the same is around 130-year-old pond nature sanctuary, which in itself is an amazing thing to witness. It is located in the N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614, USA and opens when the Lincoln Park Zoo opens as well."