Chicago Children’s Museum - Chicago, Illinois

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Chicago Children’s Museum - Chicago, Illinois The museum’s primary audience is children up through the fifth grade including their families, along with the school and community groups that support and influence children’s growth and development. Fifteen permanent exhibits and programming spaces provide innovative learning experiences for children and their caregivers.

Chicago Children’s Museum was founded in 1982 by a coalition led by The Junior League of Chicago in response to program cutbacks in the Chicago Public Schools.

In October 1995, CCM opened as anchor tenant of Chicago’s redeveloped Navy Pier on Lake Michigan. The 57,000 s.f. facility has served as a springboard to propel CCM to make an important difference in the learning lives of kids. With three floors of engaging and educational exhibits, a full array of public programs and special events, CCM strives to effectively meet the needs of its diverse audience.

Exhibits: The Inventing Lab - Gadgets and gizmos inspire young minds to invent some amazing things!

Diansour Exhibit: Travel 100 million years back in time, when you discover fossils of one of the most amazing animals ever to roam the earth. Dinosaur Expedition re-creates the site of the 1997 expedition to the Sahara that unearthed Suchomimus, a never-before found species of fish-eating dinosaur, now on display at the museum.

Big Back Yard: Art meets technology in BIG Backyard - Kids of all ages and their families can immerse themselves in this wondrous, oversized urban garden, filled with enormous insects, giggling flowers, giant toadstools and other fantasy creations that stir the senses and make imaginations bloom.

Climbing Schooner: Scale this towering schooner’s three floors of ship-shape rigging—from deck to crow’s nest! The Kovler Family Climbing Schooner invites kids and caregivers to voyage to the bottom of the ocean and explore the tropical fish, before climbing up to the rafters and racing through the rope-like tubes at the very top. This one-of-a-kind exhibit offers an exhilarating physical—and mental—challenge to children ages five and older.

Kids on the Fly: CCM’s free exhibit at O’Hare International Airport provides a welcome respite from long layovers and delayed flights. In this aviation-themed playground, located in Terminal 2, kids can pilot a plane, propel a helicopter, become an air traffic controller, and immerse themselves in a variety of activities, including a new safety component.

Play it Safe: a dynamic, interactive environment that teaches children and families effective home safety strategies. Designed to suggest a realistic house and backyard, this exhibit is packed with inventive activities that explore ways of preventing—and responding to—common emergencies and potential hazards. Play Now You’re Cooking!, an over-the-top stovetop game show hosted by a friendly, informative oven mitt; learn the ten steps to fire safety, and create your own fire escape plan; keep safe on the streets with the advice of Captain Street Smart; take the Safety Patrol Pledge; and much more. Plus, Chicago firefighters will be on hand for weekday workshops and informal chats.

Play Maze: Shop in the grocery store, change a tire and drive a CTA bus in this miniature cityscape built just for kids ages five and younger! PlayMaze is a sensory-rich urban “neighborhood” that promotes role-playing, problem-solving, emerging literacy and creative exploration through an assortment of fun and absorbing activities.

Art Abounds Gallery: is a showcase for collaborative family art created in CCM’s own art studio and offers an intimate walk-through space that delights and inspires an early appreciation for art.

Treehouse Trails: Camp out, climb a tree and explore a cave in this enchanted forest setting. Designed for children ages five and under, Treehouse Trails magically transports the youngest visitors to the great outdoors and encourages them to use their boundless imaginations. Canoe or fish in the pretend blue river; splash in a mountain waterfall; explore the natural landscape; play in an enormous tree house; prepare vegetables from the garden and serve them in the old-fashioned log cabin. Infants can crawl over giant logs and play peek-a-boo with reflective mirrors in the waterless, cushioned Baby Pond.

Waterways: Make a splash in this squirting, pumping water playground! In WaterWays, you’ll discover the wonders of the Earth’s most abundant resource through an interactive system of pulleys, pumps, wheels and pipes that demonstrate how we manipulate the multi-functional power of water. Navigate your boat down the mighty WaterWays river—and change its flow using locks and dams. Create the tallest water fountain ever, with a replica of Buckingham Fountain for inspiration. Use all your might to turn the gigantic Water Wheel, and recreate how people have generated energy for thousands of years. Prepare to get wet, as you learn through teamwork and individual exploration about the many uses of water!

Museum Hours (See exceptions under Special Hours)

Sunday - Wednesday & Friday: 10am-5pm
Thursday & Saturday: 10am-8pm
Target Free First Mondays: 10am-8pm

Free Family Night
Thursday evenings, 5-8pm - Free admission for everyone

Target Free First Mondays
First Monday of every month - Free admission for ages 15 and under (DOES NOT APPLY TO SCHOOL GROUPS)

CCM is open every holiday except Thanksgiving and Christmas days.

Special Hours

Fridays (from June 16 through September 1): 10am-8pm
Saturday, September 16: 10am - 5pm

Please note: CCM will be closed for improvements Tuesday, September 5, through Friday, September 8.

All-Day Admission

Children and Adults $8
Seniors $7
Children under one Free
CCM Members Free

The museum accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

Location: 700 East Grand Ave, (Navy Pier), Chicago, IL

Phone: 312 527 1000

As the Chicago Children’s Museum is conveniently located near several of Chicago’s attractions, you won’t have a problem finding excellent accommodations in the area.  Consider HotelsCombined.com to find the best rates on Chicago hotels.