Culture

Get the inside scoop on a Chicago neighborhood with a local expert. The Chicago Greeter Program offers free walking tours of the city hosted by resident volunteers. From the Ukrainian Village to Lincoln Square, the Greeter Program is a great way to learn the ins-and-outs of this dynamic city.

At the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum,17,000 square feet (1,579 square meters) of rooftop gardens teach visitors about energy-efficient technology. Large greenhouses also let you walk among colorful butterflies, including some rare varieties. Visitors can enter for free on Thursdays, but a donation is appreciated.

Check out the largest T. Rex fossil in the world or explore the "Ancient Americas" exhibit to learn about old-world American cultures at the Field Museum. Admission is free for select programs throughout the year.

The DuSable Museum of African-American History offers visitors free entry every Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy the museum's 450-seat theater, which hosts lectures, talks, and plays, or explore the expansive exhibit on the civil rights movement.

Learn about the lives of Near Eastern civilizations at Chicago's Oriental Institute Museum, which is free to the public. Visitors to the galleries—which include artifacts from Egyptian, Persian, and Mesopotamian societies—can take a break by strolling through the courtyard.

Chicago's unique Shedd Aquarium hosts visitors free of charge on discount days, which sometimes occur for a week at a time throughout the year. Watch a diver feed sharks, rays, and a sea turtle at the "Caribbean Reef" exhibit.

The Chicago Public Library offers a host of exhibits and ongoing programs at no charge. Share your prose at the annual poetry fest or learn how to manage your personal finances at the annual "Money Smart Week."

Check out the Jane Addams Hull House, one of the first settlement houses in the United States. Founded by Jane Addams in 1889, the museum offers photographs, furniture, and a collection of pottery. Groups of seven or more can call ahead to arrange walking tours. Admission and all programs are free.

Explore the universe for free on discount days—which sometimes occur for a week at a time—at the Adler Planetarium Exhibitions like "Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity" and "Shoot for The Moon" give visitors an out-of-this-world adventure.

Mondays are free at the Chicago History Museum, a treasure trove of interesting artifacts and documents about the city's past. Other temporary exhibitions, like "Colonia to Community," a look at the Mexican American community in Chicago's Southeast Side, are on view at various times throughout the year.

The Museum of Science and Industry has many free admission days throughout the year. Learn the story of the German U-505 submarine captured in WWII or find out about planes on a real Boeing 727 donated by United Airlines.

Interested in learning more about Chicago's architecture? Visit the Archicenter, which is free to the public seven days a week 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free rotating exhibits showcase the latest in modern design and a full city model. "You are Here" is on permanent display. Visitors can pay extra for guided architecture tours around the city.

Every year, the Chicago Cultural Center hosts a variety of free programs and events related to the visual, literary, and performing arts. Check out some of Chicago's up-and-coming musicians for free through the Myra Hess concert series or join the center's many free literary programs.