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Chicago History Museum

ChildrenLocal HistoryHistoryClosed · Opens 9:30amFrom $24Sedgwick (CTA Brown & Purple Line, approx. 0.5 mi)

Founded in 1856 as the Chicago Historical Society, the Chicago History Museum has stood at Clark Street and North Avenue on the southern edge of Lincoln Park since 1932. Its collection runs to some 22 million objects, photographs, documents and pieces of clothing, anchored by treasures such as the bed on which Abraham Lincoln died, the 1848 "Pioneer" locomotive and the city's first elevated railway car. Permanent galleries including Chicago: Crossroads of America, Facing Freedom and the hands-on Sensing Chicago trace the city from a swampy trading post to a global metropolis. Rotating shows tackle Latino/a/e Chicago, protest design and the Emmett Till trial, while the Abakanowicz Research Center opens the archives to the public for free.

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

1601 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

Nearest station: Sedgwick (CTA Brown & Purple Line, approx. 0.5 mi), Clark/Division (CTA Red Line, approx. 0.5 mi), CTA buses 22, 36, 72, 73, 151 and 156 stop nearby

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Hours

MonClosed
Tue09:30–16:30
WedToday09:30–16:30
Thu09:30–16:30
Fri09:30–16:30
Sat09:30–16:30
Sun12:00–17:00

Admission

From $24

Chicago residents $19; seniors 65+ $20 ($17 Chicago resident); students 19-22 $20 ($17 Chicago resident); Illinois residents aged 18 and under free; all children 12 and under free; members free. Free days for Illinois residents on selected dates.

Nearby

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Architecture22 min walk

Richard H. Driehaus Museum

Architecture24 min walk

Chicago Architecture Center

Architecture33 min walk

Art Institute of Chicago

Architecture44 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Chicago History Museum cost?
Standard adult admission to Chicago History Museum is $24. Chicago residents $19; seniors 65+ $20 ($17 Chicago resident); students 19-22 $20 ($17 Chicago resident); Illinois residents aged 18 and under free; all children 12 and under free; members free. Free days for Illinois residents on selected dates.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Chicago History Museum?
Chicago History Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm; closed Mondays (open on selected Mondays and commemorative days). Early closing at 2:30pm on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Chicago History Museum?
Chicago History Museum is located at 1601 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, United States, in the Lincoln Park / Old Town area of Chicago. The nearest stations are Sedgwick (CTA Brown & Purple Line, approx. 0.5 mi), Clark/Division (CTA Red Line, approx. 0.5 mi), CTA buses 22, 36, 72, 73, 151 and 156 stop nearby.
What can I see at Chicago History Museum?
Lincoln Park's storyteller of Chicago: the Great Fire, Lincoln's deathbed, an original L car and 1930s dioramas. Current highlights include Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70s, Facing Freedom, Chicago: Crossroads of America.
Do I need to book Chicago History Museum in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Chicago History Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

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