The 10 Best Museums in Chicago

As the third largest city in the United States, Chicago, Illinois, is full of exciting things to experience. From historical places and historical sights to some of the best entertainment and cuisine in the world. However, it’s also a museum lover’s paradise with dozens of world-class museums. Whether you want to see priceless fine art or historical artifacts, Chicago is the place to be. Below are the ten best museums to visit in Chicago. Each features renowned collections and exhibits, all within one of the world’s most exciting cities.

Since its opening after the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1894, the Field Museum has housed one of the world’s great collections of anthropological and paleontological wonders. In the 480,000 square foot space are over 20 permanent exhibits that chronicle the history of life on earth and humanity. You’ll be greeted with amazing exhibits that take you through the history of life on earth and human history through the ages. From ancient Chinese artifacts such as the Qingming scroll to Pharaoh Senwosret III’s 4000-year-old Nile boat, the anthropological highlights are endless.

The museum also has exhibits on Native American culture. Several thought-provoking highlights include the Indigenous history of lacrosse and Native American historical artifacts and stories from Chicago. To top it all off, there are some of the most famous dinosaur and extinct animal fossils in the world. You’ll get to see the towering skeletons of Máximo, the titanosaur, and Sue the T-Rex. The Field Museum also features fun events such as film screenings and lectures. If you’re an Illinois resident, you can enjoy the Field Museum for free every Wednesday.

2. Art Institute of Chicago

One of the museum’s most astonishing collections is its 35,000-piece Asian art collection. It includes masterpieces from Japan, China, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The collection includes priceless works in mediums such as Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese ceramics, and paintings.

If you love interactive exhibits that allow you to create a virtual tornado or explore a restored German U-505 submarine, then this museum is for you. The Museum of Science and Industry changed its name in 2024 after a $125 million donation from Ken Griffin, a Chicago billionaire. The museum is the ultimate space for anyone of any age who loves exploring science and human history. You’ll find endless exhibits with hands-on and engaging activities. Several exhibits challenge guests to think about the planet and its history. Highlights include the Blue Paradox exhibit, which looks at our dependence on plastics and their environmental effects on our oceans. The museum also hosts popular events on its beautiful grounds. Events such as movies in the park and special night hours in the exhibits let you make an entire day and evening out of your visit.

4. Museum of Contemporary Art

If you’re checking out the world-famous shopping district of the Magnificent Mile, don’t miss the MCA—Museum of Contemporary Art. Here, you can experience a revolving collection of mixed-media art and performances, all housed inside an iconic modern building. The MCA was founded in 1967 and has grown into a staple of Chicago’s art community. It houses over 2,000 pieces of contemporary art, including highlights such as Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s Bracken or Moss, Andy Warhol’s The Devil in the Details, and Marisol Escobar’s The First Accession. On top of its permanent exhibit are its events, which feature live music and dance performances, lectures, and public screenings. You may time your visit to see talks by influential cultural figures, such as July 2024’s music talk by Michelle Coltrane, the daughter of legendary vocalist Alice Coltrane.

Originally the Chicago Historical Society, the museum is a one-stop location for everything Chicago. Its exhibits examine the city’s exciting history, from its Indigenous history to its railroad industry and the infamous gangsters who called it home. Over 20 million historical items, including newspapers, photos, and interactive displays, are on display. Each exhibit is full of historical information about the city and its culture.

You’ll start your visit in the Chicago: Crossroads of America exhibit, where you’ll learn about the city’s origins and famous railroads. Then, you’ll traverse through exhibits such as the Sensing Chicago exhibit, where you’ll get to experience historical events through multisensory experiences. The museum is a great place to see live performances and historical film screenings. There are also guided walking tours of the historical neighborhoods of the city that leave from the museum.

6. Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

This 65,000-square-foot museum houses intimate collections of over 20,000 items that chronicle the lives of those who were murdered during the Holocaust. It’s the second-largest Holocaust museum in the United States and one of Chicago’s most impactful museums. The museum was founded in 1981 after a group of neo-Nazis attempted to march on the northern Chicago suburb of Skokie. After the event, a group of Holocaust survivors opened a storefront in the community and formed the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois.

The current museum opened in 2009 and has since become one of Chicago’s most visited museums. When you visit, you’ll get to experience artifacts, photos, and stories from the survivors and their families. The museum also houses the Take a Stand Center, which chronicles the dangers of remaining silent during atrocities.

This world-renowned museum on the University of Chicago campus offers over 6,000 years of human history. The institute was founded in 1919 by the archaeologist James Henry Breasted. In 1931, it opened to the public and displayed over 5,000 artifacts from North Africa and West Asia in beautifully curated exhibits.

Inside, you’ll see thousands of years of human history taken from the museum’s 350,000-item collection. Some highlights include Egyptian ceramics, Mesopotamian tablets, and figurines up to 6,000 years old. Arguably the most impressive item is the 40-ton sculpture of a bull with a human head from ancient Khorsabad. The institute also hosts events and activities for all ages. You can enjoy lectures by guest speakers and traveling exhibits that highlight the latest developments in anthropology and archeology.

8. DuSable Museum 

The DuSable Museum is an iconic museum dedicated to the culture and history of African Americans. Here, you’ll see fantastic works of art and thought-provoking exhibits that explore the history and influence of African Americans on American and world culture. You’ll experience multimedia exhibits that display the slave trade, the civil rights movement, and other major moments in American history. Many sobering artifacts, such as former slave ship shackles and signs used during segregation, are on display. Time your visit to experience one of the museum’s events. These include guest lectures, musical performances, and film screenings. The museum also has rotating art exhibits, including shows by traveling artists.

9. American Writers Museum

If you love learning about the history of American literature and journalism, then you’ll love this museum. Here, you’ll get to explore Chicago’s rich literary legacy, from its early press to its iconic poets and novelists, which include names such as Gwendolyn Brooks and Ernest Hemingway. The museum also showcases over 400 years of American writing. You’ll get to see original vintage typewriters, stationery, and books. There are also virtual exhibits that take you into the lives of some of the greatest writers in American history. Other highlights of the museum include rotating exhibits that look at writers, songwriters, and the evolution of the English language in American literature. The museum also features wonderful family-friendly events, lectures, and readings by local and traveling authors.

In the center of downtown’s loop is the Chicago Cultural Center. It is one of the most exciting cultural and artistic destinations in the city. Here, you’ll see revolving art shows, musical performances, and cultural events. The center houses four main galleries, which feature a revolving collection of art spanning a wide range of mediums. This year, local artist Victoria Martinez displays her work entitled Braiding Histories, which takes inspiration from the urban environment, body, and graffiti art.

Another wonderful reason to visit is the ongoing free concerts. Local performers and traveling musicians put on incredible shows, all within the center’s beautiful historic building. When it comes to architecture, you’ll immediately be awestruck by the gigantic dome made from Tiffany glass. The Classical Revival-style building, built in 1897, is one of the city’s most iconic buildings from that period.