Our 2026 Family Commitment

This year, I made a quiet promise to myself and to my daughter:

Every month, we will visit a new museum or Chicago historical location together.

Not for perfection.

Not for social media.

Not for checklists.

But for memory building. Exposure. Wonder. Legacy.

As a mom, I’m learning that education doesn’t only live in classrooms.

It lives in city streets, exhibits, history walls, science labs, and moments when your child looks up and says:

“Wow… I didn’t know that.”

January kicked off beautifully for us.

January Kickoff: Adler Planetarium

We started our journey at the Adler Planetarium, and it honestly felt symbolic.

Starting the year looking at stars.

Talking about how big the universe is.

Talking about possibility.

It reminded me that motherhood is also about expanding vision — mine and hers.

And here’s what I love most:

Chicago makes this kind of learning accessible if you know where to look.

2026 Free Museum Days in Chicago (Illinois Residents)

(Always confirm before visiting — schedules can change and many require advance reservations.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Free:

• Winter Weekdays: Jan 5 – Feb 28, 2026

• Free entry typically 11 AM – close on weekdays

Also always free for many groups including Chicago teens and young children. 

Adler Planetarium

2026 Illinois Resident Free Days include:

• Feb: 2, 4, 9, 11, 18, 23

• March: 2, 4, 9, 11, 18, 25

• April: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Advance online tickets usually required. 

Chicago History Museum

Free 2026 Dates:

• Jan 19–23 and Jan 27–30

• Feb 16

Many groups also receive free entry year-round. 

Field Museum

Free:

• Every Wednesday in 2026 (Illinois residents) 

Shedd Aquarium

2026 Free Days:

• Jan 6–8, 13–20, 27–29

• Feb 3–5, 10–12, 17–19, 24–26

Free Nights (5–9 PM):

March through June on select Tuesdays. 

Griffin Museum of Science & Industry

2026 Free Dates Include:

• Feb 2–5, 8–12, 17–19, 23–26

• April 19

• June 4, 19 

DuSable Black History Museum

Free:

• Every Wednesday (2026 list source confirms pattern across guides)

Museum of Contemporary Art

Free:

• Every Tuesday 5–9 PM (Illinois residents) 

Museums Free Year-Round or Recurring Free Access

Many Chicago cultural spaces offer ongoing free access:

• National Museum of Mexican Art — Always Free

• Smart Museum of Art — Always Free

• American Writers Museum — Free third Sunday monthly

• Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum — Free Thursdays for IL residents

• Swedish American Museum — Free second Tuesday monthly

• Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art — Free Wednesdays

• Driehaus Museum — Free Wednesdays after 4 PM 

Other Free Things to Do in Chicago (Mom + Kid Friendly)

Chicago also offers free experiences beyond museums:

Nature + Outdoor

• Millennium Park (Cloud Gate / “The Bean”)

• Lincoln Park Zoo (Always Free)

• Lakefront Trail walks

• Garfield Park Conservatory (Free with suggested donation)

Learning + Culture

• Chicago Cultural Center exhibits

• Harold Washington Library children’s programs

• Neighborhood festivals (many free summer weekends)

Seasonal Free Ideas

• Ice skating viewing + city lights walks in winter

• Free summer movies in the parks

• Free neighborhood art walks

Free museum access is intentionally built into Chicago’s cultural system so residents can access world-class learning year-round. 

Why This Matters (For Me As a Mom)

I don’t need perfect motherhood.

I need present motherhood.

If Zoie grows up remembering:

• We explored

• We asked questions

• We learned together

• We made time

Then I’ve done my job.

This is part of Uncovering Her for me too —

Raising a daughter who knows the world is bigger than fear, bigger than struggle, bigger than limitation.

Our 2026 Family Goal

12 months.

12 experiences.

12 memory markers.

And if you’re a Chicago mom reading this:

Start where you are.

Use the free days.

Pack snacks.

Take pictures.

Write memories on the back of them.

(Just like legacy women before us did.)