Museums are not just for history buffs and curious adults. If used properly, they can be a source of great information, imagination, and entertainment for kids. Besides, there are specific museums that are designed to cater to the needs of the little ones. They are designed to increase the kids’ curiosity, enhance their imagination, and stimulate their creativity based on what they will see, learn, and interact with at the museum. If you are planning a family trip to Chicago, scroll down below to see our list of the top children’s museums in Illinois, the USA. They are great destinations for entertaining family day-outs.
1. Field Museum of Natural History (from USD 27.0)
At Field Museum of Natural History, your kids will have a chance to travel back in time with exhibits that date back to billions of years. The museum contains gigantic columns and striking galleries to give the young ones a glimpse of history when they come face to face with Maximo the Titanosaur and the massive elephants. This is the best place to give kids a fine introduction to anthropology, geology, and paleontology.
Chicago Field Museum of Natural History Admission
Duration: 4 hours
2. Swedish American Museum
This is perhaps one of the most popular children-friendly museums in Chicago. It contains a variety of interactive and imaginative plays that were modeled after the real-life experiences of Swedish immigrants in the United States. There is a Swedish farmhouse, a pioneer cabin, and a steamship where kids will find so much fun that they will not want to leave.
Swedish American Museum
Address: 5211 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
Website: Swedish American Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 4pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 4pm
Price: 4 USD
3. Kidzeum of Health and Science
This is a unique one on the list, and one of the top educational museums dedicated to kids in the entire country. The museum is all about raising awareness among kids about health and wellness. The museum promotes science education as well as environmental and global awareness to the little ones through a variety of innovative products and exhibits. The museum is designed as such so that kids of all abilities will have something to explore, learn, and have fun in a healthy and exciting way.
Kidzeum of Health and Science
Address: 412 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701, United States
Website: Kidzeum of Health and Science
Price: 9 USD
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4. Dupage Children's Museum
Dupgage Children Museum is ideal for helping children expand more on their creativity and have answers to some of the things they have been curious about. It contains a variety of exhibits and classes that will improve kids’ comprehension of math, science, nature, and art interactively. It gives children a chance to work together to improve their problem-solving skills, create things, and most importantly, play together.
Dupage Children's Museum
Address: 301 N Washington St, Naperville, IL 60540, United States
Website: Dupage Children’s Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 9am - 4pm (closed from Thur - Mon)
Price: 9 USD
5. Chicago Children’s Museum (from USD 15.0)
Chicago Children’s Museum is reputed as one of the best children museums in the United States. It has something for kids of every age. Notable points of interest here include the Tinkering Lab where kids will have a chance to create something with their hands using basic tools, the Dinosaur Expedition where they can do digging for dinosaur bones, the Cloud Buster for the adventurous kids to climb up the life-sized fire trucks which will make them feel like real firemen on a mission to save lives. This is the best place to take your kids if you have no plans on Sundays.
Skip the Line: Chicago Children's Museum Admission Ticket
Duration: 3 to 5 hours
6. Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Contemporary Art is a wonderful place to introduce your kids to the world of contemporary art with works by industry giants such as Jeff Koons, Magritte, and Chuck Close. The museum houses a variety of exhibits that both parents and kids will find to be entertaining and educational. The facility also has a sculpture garden, a theater, and a restaurant which makes a visit by the young ones more appealing because there will be lots of fun things that they will see and do.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Address: 220 E Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60611
Website: Museum of Contemporary Art
Opening hours: Tue: 10am - 9pm; Wed - Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 8 USD
7. Discovery Center Museum
Discovery Center Museums houses more than 300 interactive exhibits ranging from planetariums to bubbles which will not only be fun but also raise kids’ curiosity about the world around them. The Discovery Town, for instance, is a great place to let kids feel experience how it’s like to be pilots, doctors, pizza server, and much more.
Discovery Center Museum
Address: 711 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103, United States
Website: Discovery Center Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 9 USD
8. Kohl’s Children Museum
Kohl’s Children Museum is highly recommended for young kids up to 8 years of age. It features a total of 17 interactive exhibits that expose the young ones to a variety of real-world experiences and normal day to day undertakings. Kids will have a chance to go shopping for groceries at Whole Foods Market, make some music at Ravinia Festival Music Makers, and tend to turtles and kittens at Pet Vet Exhibition. They will also get exposed to “adult activities” such as constructing houses, repairing cars, and taking care of babies.
Kohl's Children Museum
Address: 2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview, IL 60026, United States
Website: Kohl’s Children Museum
Opening hours: Mon: 9:30am - 1pm; Tue - Sat: 9:30am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm
Price: 14 USD
9. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
At Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the little ones will get introduced to Illinois ecology in a simpler and more entertaining way. Located in Lincoln Park, strolling through the butterfly haven will create the feeling of being in a tropical paradise. Apart from the butterflies that kids will be interacting with, they will also have a chance to explore a beaver lodge, a spider web, and nature trails. A trip to this museum is not only fun and educational but also very entertaining.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Address: 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
Website: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm
Price: 1 USD
10. Adler Planetarium
Most kids dream of becoming astronauts and going to space. Whether or not they have expressed their desire to become astronauts, this museum has something for every kid. It is the very first planetarium in the United States and a great place to send curious and aspiring kids on a voyage of planetary discovery. The museum has over 35000 square feet (3251 square meters) of exhibits that teach and entertain kids about astronomy. Kids will particularly fall in love with the demonstrations, the interpretations at the historic Sky Theater, the crafts, and the telescope viewing sessions. When you visit with your young ones, be sure not to miss the Planet Explorers where you will get lots of hands-on activities that will delight the hearts of the aspiring astronauts.
Adler Planetarium
Address: 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
Website: Adler Planetarium
Opening hours: 9am - 4pm (daily)
Price: 8 USD
Wholesome learning and entertainment for kids
Gift your kids with the pleasure of learning and getting entertained at the same time. The next time you visit Chicago with your little ones, consider these top children’s museums in Illinois, the USA, for pleasant experiences that your kids will remember for a long time.
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