30 Chicago Museums for Kids to Explore

The Bronzeville Children's Museum opened in 1993 as the first and only African-American children's museum in the country. One-hour tours are provided to introduce children to four different subject matters, allowing them to play as they learn. Tours occur every hour on the hour. Learn about African American inventors, STEM leaders, athletes, innovations in medicine, and more. Each exhibit is play-based, with age-appropriate toys and activities to match.

The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the largest science museums in the world. Exhibits focus on the history and future of science and science education, and kids love the interactive exhibits and jaw-dropping experiences geared just for them. It has an amazing model train exhibit, too, that will wow train enthusiast kids (and adults).

Chicago's most popular stargazing spot offers education and entertainment for visitors of all ages. Explore a variety of out-of-this-world exhibits and breathtaking shows, and check out the Planet Explorers area, where kids can climb, crawl, play, and join the crew on a mission to space!

Sarah Calamita:  If you have dinosaur lovers this is THE place to go. The great thing is you can go in and spend a few hours inside, but then it is right on the lake so you can spend time outside and walk the path along the lake! It is an amazing museum. Don't miss the SUE exhibit!

See whales, dolphins, sharks, stingrays, jellyfish and more! Many exhibits are play-based, like the Polar Play Zone, where your kiddo can slip into a penguin suit and waddle around! Experience touch tanks, animal chats, dolphin and whale shows, shark feedings, behind-the-scenes tours, sleepover events, youth camps, and more.

Chicago Children's Museum is located at Navy Pier along with restaurants and cruise boats. Hands-on exhibits include digging for bones at Dinosaur Expedition, and getting your fingertips wet at Waterways. There are also a couple indoor playgrounds, one at the Kovler Family Climbing Schooner and another at the enchanting forest exhibit, Treehouse Trails.

Kristy Pepping:  Visiting the Art Institute of Chicago is a great way to introduce your child to art appreciation, plus see the iconic lions out front! This popular downtown Chicago museum offers family programs and daily workshops with hands-on experiences, story times and more. Families with younger kids may particularly enjoy walking through The Thorne Miniature Rooms, The Touch Gallery, or viewing the vibrant glass treasures found in the Paperweight Gallery.

The first Museum of Illusions opened in Croatia in 2015 and quickly spread to cities around the world offering interactive and immersive exhibits featuring holograms, optical illusions, and other attractions designed to tease the senses and trick the mind. A relatively new addition to the many kid-friendly museums around Chicagoland, it's a fun destination for kids who love riddles and puzzles. Be sure to check out the Smart Playroom for fun, hands-on games and brain-teasers!

Shila:  The Chicago Sports Museum contains unique sports memorabilia from Kris Bryant’s World Series cleats to the hoop from Michael Jordan’s buzzer-beating shot in the '98 NBA Finals. Cool experiences include comparing your jumping ability to Mike's, impersonating Harry Caray, virtual home run contests and more! You can also learn a lot about the curses, superstitions and infamous sports mysteries that have captivated Chicago sports fans for decades.

Kristy Pepping:  The Chicago History Museum is located at the South end of Lincoln Park. The building itself is beautiful and the museum hosts a great selection of rotating, interactive exhibits; it's the perfect place to bring your budding historian! Kids can step inside an old L train car, or pretend to be a steam train conductor. There's also a sensory exhibit geared for youth where they can dress up as a Chicago hot dog! Illinois residents 18 and under, and non-residents 12 and under, always enjoy free admission.

Alexandra F.:  The Fire Museum of Greater Chicago is located in a 1916 firehouse, and while small in size, it is filled with the history of firefighting in Chicago. Items on display range from old photographs and artifacts to lovingly restored antique fire engines. They offer an open house to the public, with free admission, every fourth Saturday of the month (except December).

Kristy Pepping:  This is a great museum to explore any time of year, with plenty of indoor conservation-based exhibits to complement the beautiful outdoor sanctuary. Kids especially love the bright and warm Butterfly Haven, interactive RiverWorks water play area and indoor playground.

The National Museum of Mexican Art offers free admission every day it is open, so your family can immerse yourselves in the richness of Mexican art and culture right here in Chicago. They showcase 3,000 years of creativity from both sides of the border, with regular opportunities for children and family programming. Their Día de los Muertos celebration is especially worth checking out!

Erin P.:  If you are in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, this little children's museum is a great place to spend a few hours with your kids. There are some great hands-on activities for toddlers and kids, a tree house, a water adventure, an air maze, STEM discovery, and lots of opportunities to dress up.

The Build It! workshop even introduces children to tools and raw building materials. During select hours of the day, kids get supervised time - with a hard hat and goggles - to create something special.

Shila:  The KidsWork Children's Museum houses a handful of interactive play-based exhibits to nurture life-long learning and discovery. Experiences include a giant pinscreen, pet vet, puppet theater, art-making, sensory play, education-based games and innovative technology like electronic painting.

The museum has early childhood programming that's included with admission, as well as a variety of special events. Recurring drop-ins include story time, art hour, yoga for kids and more.