Field Museum Entry Tickets

The Field Museum's major ticketed special exhibition in 2026 is Anne Frank: The Exhibition, an immersive full-scale reconstruction of the annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The Pokémon Fossil Museum is a separately ticketed exhibition connecting the science of paleontology with the Pokémon franchise. Both exhibitions require tickets purchased in addition to general admission. Confirm current availability, pricing, and dates at fieldmuseum.org before your visit as exhibition schedules may change.

Yes. The Field Museum is one of Chicago's most popular family destinations. SUE the T. rex and Maximo the Titanosaur consistently captivate younger visitors, and Underground Adventure's shrinking premise delights children of all ages. The Evolving Planet dinosaur hall is fully accessible with strollers. Children under 3 enter free. The museum is large so comfortable shoes and a planned route focusing on key galleries are recommended for families with young children. Allow rest breaks and use the museum map to avoid unnecessary backtracking on busy days.

Illinois residents receive free general admission every Wednesday throughout the year with valid proof of Illinois residency such as a driver's license or state ID. Advance online reservation is strongly recommended as free Wednesdays attract high visitor numbers and available slots fill quickly. Special exhibitions such as Anne Frank: The Exhibition and the Pokémon Fossil Museum are not included in the free Wednesday admission and require separate paid tickets even for Illinois residents.

The Field Museum is at 1400 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, on Museum Campus at the southern end of Grant Park on the shore of Lake Michigan. By CTA, take the Red, Green, or Orange Line to Roosevelt Station and board an eastbound 146 Roosevelt bus to Museum Campus. Metra Electric District trains stop at Museum Campus/11th Street Station, a ten-minute walk. Parking is available at the East Museum Lot and Soldier Field North Garage. Museum Campus parking is expensive; public transit is strongly recommended.

The Field Museum has two dining venues. The Field Bistro on the ground floor serves burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, and hot entrees at counter service. The Explorer Cafe near the Ancient Egypt galleries offers lighter bites and beverages. Both are open during museum hours. Outside food is permitted in designated areas. The museum gift shop carries branded merchandise, science-themed gifts, and educational materials for all ages.

The Field Museum of Natural History is one of the world's great natural history museums, housing 30 million specimens across 480,000 square feet on Chicago's lakefront Museum Campus. It is best known for SUE, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found; Maximo, the world's longest dinosaur at 122 feet; Inside Ancient Egypt with 23 mummies; the Grainger Hall of Gems; and the Cyrus Tang Hall of China covering 10,000 years of Chinese history. Over 35 permanent exhibitions span geology, biology, anthropology, and archaeology.

SUE is the largest, most complete, and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered, found in South Dakota in 1990 and on permanent display at the Field Museum since 2000. The skeleton measures over 40 feet in length and the skull alone weighs 600 pounds. SUE is displayed in a dedicated gallery with immersive exhibits interpreting the science and story of this extraordinary fossil. SUE consistently draws the longest visitor queues in the museum and is best approached early in the morning at or shortly after opening.

Plan four to five hours for a comprehensive visit covering the major permanent exhibitions. Visitors who prioritize the headline attractions, specifically SUE, Maximo, Inside Ancient Egypt, and the Grainger Hall of Gems, can cover those in approximately 90 minutes. The museum opens at 09:00 and last admission is at 16:00. Arriving at opening is strongly recommended as the museum is very large and the most popular exhibitions are busiest in the late morning.