Free museum days in 2012

Travel through space at the Adler Planetarium.

It's no secret that family outings can come with a hefty price tag. Luckily there are plenty of free days at Chicagoland museums to enjoy throughout the year.

Adler Planetarium
(1300 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-7827, adlerplanetarium.org)
*2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days offer free admission for Illinois residents with ID.
January: 9-12, 17-18, 23-26, 31
February: 1, 6-9, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29
March: 6-7

Art Institute of Chicago*
(111 S Michigan Ave, 312-443-3600, artic.edu/aic)
*Illinois residents with ID receive free admission every weekday January 2-February 10, 2012.
Illinois residents receive a $2 discount after February 10, 2012.

Brookfield Zoo
(3300 Golf Rd; Brookfield, 708-688-8000, czs.org/czs/Brookfield/Zoo-Home)
Free Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through February 28, 2012. Hamill Family Play Zoo and Children's Zoo free daily through March 1, 2012. Active military personnel receive free admission daily. Parking $10.

Chicago Botanic Garden
(1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe; 847-835-5440, chicagobotanic.org)
Free admission daily. Parking $20 per car, $7 for senior citizens on Tuesdays. Free parking is available for active military personnel and non-active former POWs. The Metra Union Pacific North line stops just outside the gates, which means you can avoid parking if you're up for a train ride with the fam.

Chicago Children's Museum
(700 E Grand Ave, 312-527-1000, chicagochildrensmuseum.org)
Free Thursday evenings from 5–8pm. The first Sunday of every month is free for children 15 and younger.

Chicago History Museum
(1601 N Clark St, 312-642-4600, chicagohistory.org)
*2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days offer free admission for Illinois residents with ID.
February: 5–29

Clarke House Museum
(1827 S Indiana Ave, 312-326-1480, clarkehousemuseum.org)
Free admission every Wednesday, year round.

DuSable Museum of African American History
(740 E 56th Pl, 773-947-0600, dusablemuseum.org)
Free every Sunday, year round. Free admission for CPS students accompanied by an educator on school days. Children younger than five are free. 

The Field Museum*
(1400 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org)
*2012 Illinois Resident Discount Days offer free admission for Illinois residents with ID.
January: 11-13, 19-20, 24, 26-27, 31
The Crown Family PlayLab is free with Basic admission and is open Thursday-Monday, 10am-4pm.

Glessner House Museum
(1800 S Prairie Ave, 312-326-1480, glessnerhouse.org)
Free admission every Wednesday, year round.

Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
(800 S Halsted St, 312-413-5353, uic.edu/jaddams/hull)
Free admission daily but donations of $5 are encouraged. Closed Saturdays and Mondays