It’s no secret that Chicago’s many museums help make it a destination for both domestic and international travelers. A good third of the people who visit the city’s 11 Museums in the Park hail from outside Illinois.
But a decent number of those perusing the exhibits and soaking in the culture are from Chicago and its suburbs, too.
In fact, 23 percent of Museums in the Park visitors live in the city, while 19 percent are suburbanites, according to Rebecca Page Schejbal, administrative director of Museums In the Park.
And, each year, thousands of schoolchildren from across the Chicago metropolitan area benefit from access to these institutions, said David Deyhle, vice president of external relations for the Chicago History Museum.
To celebrate the abundance of culture that is at our doorstep, 11 of the city’s museums — some big, some small — and Lincoln Park Zoo are participating in the first Museum Week.
Like Fashion Week or Restaurant Week or Theater Week, Deyhle said, Museum Week, from Oct. 1 to 7, is dedicated to the craft.
“We are a museum city. Other cities have one or two museums on parkland. We have 12,” Deyhle said, including Lincoln Park Zoo in the mix.
“They really are the jewels in our park district crown,” he said. “Chicago is really the envy of other cities.”
Each participating institution is offering different incentives or specials that range from discounted admission to behind-the-scenes tours to special programs that are designed to get fresh faces in the door, while giving members of the choir new reasons to visit.
Museum Week participants are Adler Planetarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago History Museum, DuSable Museum of African American History, The Field Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Science and Industry, National Museum of Mexican Art, National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and John G. Shedd Aquarium.
“All of the participating museums, and Lincoln Park Zoo, are on park district property,” Deyhle said.
All are accessible by public transportation and all have parking nearby. Many of the museums have their own lots. For tips on how get to a given institution, visit that facility’s website.
And all are offering new reasons for you to visit, many of which are reduced admission or membership discounts.
Adler Planetarium is offering free general admission for Illinois residents on Oct. 5, 6 and 7, as well as $10 off any level of new membership. Similarly, the Chicago History Museum is offering $4 off admission, 20 percent off purchases at North & Clark Cafe and the Museum Store, and 20 percent off a new membership.
The Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry and the DuSable Museum also are offering membership discounts. And the Museum of Contemporary Art will give a half-off adult admission discount to visitors who have a receipt from another museum visited during Museum Week.
Participants that always offer free admission, such as the National Museum of Mexican Art, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture and Lincoln Park Zoo are offering special programming incentives, such as special exhibits or events.
To get all of the details on what each institution is offering during Museum Week, visit chicagomuseumweek.com.
We asked local museum-goers to give us their tips for making the most of a downtown visit, during Museum Week or the rest of the year.
Whether you plan to make a day of it or spring for a membership so you can bite off a chunk at a time, here is some tried-and-true advice for dealing with the logistics of museum-going.
*Julio Quintero, a social studies teacher in Community High School District 218, is an avid museum fan, with memberships at about a half-dozen institutions. He says his two sons, ages 3 and 7, have developed an interest in sea animals and steam trains as a result of their museum visits.
His advice: When heading to the museum campus, either to visit the Shedd, the Field or the Adler, plan on arriving between 9 and 10 a.m. Often, he said, you can find parking at the meter spots along Solidarity Drive. The rate is much less expensive than the parking lots. Or if you have an annual membership and aren’t pressured to see the whole museum in one day, arrive later, closer to 3 p.m. when the early crowd will be heading out.
As for lunch, Quintero said, consider one of the museum eateries or head out into the neighborhoods. He recommends Giordano’s, Flo and Santos and The Scout in the South Loop. Also, he said, the Pilsen neighborhood offers some great spots that are budget-friendly, such as El Milagro at 1927 S. Blue Island Ave.
When visiting the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, he said, take a walk out to Promontory Point, which offers great views of the skyline.
“It is also the only part of the lakefront that did not get a new seawall walkway, so the original one is still intact,” he said.
*Aida Maravillas, a social worker at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, has plenty of tips and cost-cutting ideas.
Depending on how many are in your party, she said, sometimes it will cost the same, or less, to pay for parking instead of taking public transportation. When visiting the museum with children, it can also be convenient to have your own vehicle in case you have to leave unexpectedly. Parking in a museum campus lot is less expensive than the Soldier Field garage, and the lot nearest to the Adler Planetarium has an early bird discount, she said.
She also recommends packing a picnic lunch and eating outside in nice weather.
Each museum gets busier later in the day and later in the week, she said. This is especially true of Shedd Aquarium. If crowds are not your thing, she recommends you call ahead to see how many school groups will be visiting that day.
And, teachers, remember that educators often get free admission with a valid work ID.
*Stephanie Bilotto, administrative assistant in District 218, said she believes early is the best time to go.
“Sundays tend to be the least busy. Or go on holidays or during big game events,” she said.
*Donna Hughes, adjunct professor at Moraine Valley Community College, teaches art appreciation and western humanities. She requires students to “compare and contrast two works of art” as a research assignment. The students can choose from various local museums and galleries, and she encourages them to find works that they can relate to or connect with.
Many English as a Second Language students choose to visit The National Museum of Mexican Art, the Polish Museum of America, the Field Museum and the Irish American Heritage Center.
“The first-class Art Institute of Chicago would be my pick, of course,” she said. “The galleries hold the best Impressionist collection in the Midwest, along with famous works: Seurat’s ‘Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,’ the ‘Nighthawks,’ ‘American Gothic’ … and many more.”
She recommends visitors consider student discounts, free museum days and free family pass cards.
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