Chicago Children’s Museum

Chicago Children’s Museum is a vibrant educational institution located at Navy Pier offering hands-on learning and play experiences for infants, children, and families. Established in 1982, the museum serves more than 400,000 visitors annually and is one of the city’s top cultural attractions and the second most visited children’s museum in the country.

The museum features three floors of interactive exhibits and activities providing sensory experiences and engaging educational content focusing on literacy, science, math, visual and performing arts, and health. Major exhibits include Cloud Buster, Climbing Schooner, Play it Safe, Kids Town (featuring a life-size CTA bus and kid-sized cityscape), Michael’s Museum, Skyline, Dinosaur Expedition, Water City, and rotating special exhibits in Crown Gallery.

Creative spaces include the Kraft Artabounds Studio for artistic expression, Tinkering Lab where children and adults use real tools and materials to experiment with creativity, and Pritzker Playspace designed exclusively for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Daily workshops are offered throughout the museum at various times with free passes available one hour before each session.

The museum provides accessibility and inclusion programs including Play for All events inviting children and families with disabilities to experience the museum early with pre-registration. Admission discounts are available for Illinois residents, military families, and families qualifying for state food assistance through the Museums for All program. Field trips and group visits are available with orientation, play support, and secure storage. The museum encourages families and caregivers to create, explore, and discover together through play.