Plan Your Visit

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an accessible and affordable family destination located in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Read through the details below to help you plan your visit, or jump to a specific section.

Jump To: Hours | Admission | Safety Precautions & Protocols | Amenities | Museum Store | Accessibility

Hours

The Nature Museum building is open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm, with the exception of select holidays. The Nature Museum is closed on Friday, May 5, 2023, Thanksgiving Day (November 23, 2023), and Christmas Day (December 25, 2023).

Members can enjoy early access to the museum beginning at 9am on Sundays and Tuesdays. Join us on those mornings  to experience all of your favorite exhibits an hour before the building opens to the public.

Admission

Purchase Admission
Admission tickets may be purchased in-person at the Nature Museum front desk, or may be purchased in advance online here.

Groups of 10 or more people receive discounted admission to the museum when registering at least two weeks in advance. Click here to register your group.

Suggested Donation Days
We are pleased to offer Suggested Donation Days as part of our spring/summer schedule. You can view upcoming dates below.

Illinois residents can enjoy free admission during these Suggested Donation Days, or support us with a $10 suggested household donation at the time of admission. Illinois residents can reserve their Suggested Donation Day tickets online or in person.

Suggested Donation Day tickets apply to individual tickets only, and are not available for group visit registrations. Please click here for more information about group visits.

Discounted Admissions
We are also happy to offer discounted admission to Illinois teachers, active military members, and more. Please note, some of these may not currently be available via our online ticketing system, but can still be redeemed in person at the admissions at the time of check in. Read on for details.

• Illinois Teachers: Illinois teachers who display their school ID during check-in will receive free admission for themselves. Teachers visiting as part of a field trip are charged a group rate or admitted for free based on the attendance policies of their registered trip.
• Blue Star Families: Active-duty service members with ID and their families can enjoy free admission year-round. Click here for additional details. Veterans and retired service members with ID can also enjoy free admission year-round.
• Museums for All: We are pleased to offer a discounted admission fee of $1 to individuals and families presenting an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card. Museum visitors who display their EBT Card and a valid form of identification will receive a discounted admission rate of $1 per person, for up to six people in their party. Children under 3 are, as always, free. This admission rate is available during all normal operating hours.
• ASTC Passport Program: If you are a member of a science center or museum participating in the ASTC Passport Program, you are eligible for benefits such as free general admission when you travel outside of your local area. Click here for a full list of details, participating institutions, and restrictions.
• Regional Museum Reciprocal Admission: We’ve partnered with local and regional institutions to offer free or discounted admission to their members. Click here for a full list.
• Kids Museum Passports: A Kids Museum Passport is good for free on-site admission for two adults and two children. They can be checked out at Chicago Public Library branches.
• Group Visits: Groups of 10 or more people receive discounted admission to the museum when registering at least two weeks in advance. Click here to register your group.

What to Expect: Safety Precautions & Protocols

In accordance with the CDC, state and city recommendations, masks are recommended for visitors over the age of 2, but are not required for entry. In addition, we are asking our visitors, volunteers, and staff to adhere to common COVID-19 safety procedures when they are in our building, including those listed below.

• Masks are recommended for guests during drop by programs under 30 minutes, but are not required.
• Eating is permitted only in designated eating areas: Nature’s Lunchbox (indoor) and the Ravine (outdoor).
• Social distancing is encouraged throughout the building, during programming, and on the Museum grounds.

Our decisions are informed by science, and we will continue to follow the science throughout the pandemic. Click here for additional details about our reopening safety procedures as well as our reopening Frequently Asked Questions.

Museum Store

The Museum Store is open 10am-4pm every day the Nature Museum building is open. In addition to gifts, apparel, and books. Limited snack options are also available for purchase.

Guests can also shop our online store and choose to have their purchases shipped to them or available for pick up at the Nature Museum from 10am to 3pm. Click here to browse our online store.

Amenities

Coat Check
Coat check is available for $1 per item. Guests may also check a stroller in coat check.

Nursing
Mothers are welcome to nurse wherever they are comfortable within the building. Our private Quiet/Lactation Room is also available upon request.

Stairs/Elevators
All exhibits and levels are accessible to wheelchair-users and visitors who need to avoid stairs. Our passenger elevator is wheelchair, walker, and stroller accessible.

Strollers
A limited number of strollers are available for $4 upon request with a picture ID. Strollers are allowed everywhere in the Museum except for the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven. Stroller parking is available near the Butterfly Haven entrance.

Restrooms
All restrooms on all levels are stroller and wheelchair accessible. Restrooms equipped with child changing tables are located on all three levels. All-gender, single-occupancy restrooms are located on all three levels. Gendered, multi-stall restrooms are located on the first and second level.

Transportation
The Nature Museum is located near several CTA stops. Click here for directions to the Nature Museum.