Best museums in Chicago
The top 3 according to 458 votes from people: Art Institute of Chicago · Field Museum · Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. (Updated Sep 13, 2026.)
Impressionists, dinosaurs and a U-505 submarine: the Chicago museums visitors and locals rank highest.
Top 10
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1
Art Institute of Chicago
World-class collection with Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte and Nighthawks.
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2
Field Museum
Natural history museum home to Sue, the T. rex, and an Ancient Egypt exhibit.
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3
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Huge science museum with a U-505 submarine and a coal mine.
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4
Chicago Architecture Center
Exhibits and the famous architecture river cruise.
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5
National Museum of Mexican Art
Free museum in Pilsen.
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6
Shedd Aquarium
Lakefront aquarium with beluga whales.
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7
Adler Planetarium
America's first planetarium, with skyline views.
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8
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
One of the world's largest contemporary art museums.
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9
DuSable Black History Museum
One of the oldest museums of African American history.
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10
Chicago History Museum
The city's story from the Great Fire to today.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Butterfly haven in Lincoln Park.
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12
Smart Museum of Art
The University of Chicago's art museum, free to visit.
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13
Richard H. Driehaus Museum
Gilded Age mansion with Tiffany glass.
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14
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Wright's own house and studio in Oak Park, where he worked from 1889 to 1909.
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15
Chicago Cultural Center
Former central library (1897) with the world's largest Tiffany glass dome; free exhibitions and concerts.
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16
Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum
The University of Chicago's museum of the ancient Near East, formerly the Oriental Institute; free entry.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (9)
Add the Chicago Cultural Center, the Tiffany dome is gorgeous and it's free.
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park is a must for architecture fans.
The ISAC Museum (old Oriental Institute) at UChicago is a hidden gem.
The Art Institute alone is worth the trip to Chicago.
Sue the T. rex at the Field Museum never gets old.
Shedd's beluga whales are my kids' favourite.
The coal mine and the U-505 sub at the Museum of Science and Industry!
And the Smart Museum of Art, also free.
National Museum of Mexican Art is free and amazing.