The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium will close to the public on Friday, Jan. 23, “in anticipation of dangerously cold weather conditions,” according to announcements late Thursday.
All three institutions on Chicago’s lakefront Museum Campus, along with the MCA (220 E. Chicago Ave.) expect to reopen for normal operating hours on Saturday. Ticketholders affected by the closure will be contacted by the museums.
Essential staff will still report to work to look after the buildings, collections and animals — including the Shedd’s animal care team.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold warning from 3 a.m. Friday until noon for central Cook County. Weather officials warned residents ahead of the cold stretch to expect dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 to 35 degrees below zero. Chicago Public Schools canceled classes on Friday, as have a number of suburban school systems.
Arctic blast brings warnings, closures and cancellations to Chicago area
Update: This story has been changed to add the MCA’s announcement to the closures.
dgeorge@chicagotribune.com
