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Membership Tiers

Our memberships are designed to be flexible—pick the membership that best suits your needs. Illinois residents 18 & under and children 12 and under are free every day!

All memberships include FREE admission, 10% off at the North & Clark Café, Museum Store & PhotoStore, special discounts on programs and events, and invitations to exclusive events.

Plus package and All-Star members also receive free parking during every visit (a great value) and reciprocity at more than 800 museums throughout North America through the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association.

Have more questions or concerns? Check out our FAQs or call (312) 642-4600.

Individual: $70

  • Free Museum admission for one person (only one person can be listed on this membership level)
  • Invitations to annual member-only events, including exhibition previews and celebrations
  • Access to the online member portal, which houses video and audio recordings of past member events, digitized Chicago History magazines, and more
  • Discounts on programs and the PhotoStore, Museum Store, and North & Clark Café, plus double discount weeks
  • Monthly member communications
Join Now!

Dual: $80

  • Free Museum admission for two people
  • Invitations to annual member-only events, including exhibition previews and celebrations
  • Access to the online member portal, which houses video and audio recordings of past member events, digitized Chicago History magazines, and more
  • Discounts on programs and the PhotoStore, Museum Store, and North & Clark Café, plus double discount weeks
  • Monthly member communications
Join Now!

Household: $100

  • Free Museum admission for four people
  • Invitations to exclusive member-only events including exhibition previews and celebrations
  • Access to the online member portal, which houses video and audio recordings of past member events, digitized Chicago History magazines, and more
  • Discounts on programs and the PhotoStore, Museum Store, and North & Clark Café, plus double discount weeks
  • Monthly member communications
Join Now!

All Star: $250

  • Extra philanthropic support for the Museum, including a $120 fully tax-deductible donation to the annual fund
  • Free Museum admission for four people
  • Invitations to exclusive member-only events, including exhibition previews and celebrations
  • Access to the online member portal, which houses recordings of past member events-both video and audio, digitized Chicago History magazines, and more
  • Discounts on programs and the PhotoStore, Museum Store, and North & Clark Café, plus double discount weeks
  • Reciprocal benefits at +1,300 museums through the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association®
  • Free parking during Museum visits
  • Monthly member e-communications
  • An invitation to one intimate “behind the scenes” tour per year
Join or Renew

Plus: + $30

Add to any package (except All Star) for just $30 and receive:

Join or Renew
Download Membership Brochure

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply the cost of a Museum visit towards the cost of a membership?

Yes, you can! Save your admission receipt and bring it back to the Visitor Services desk to turn your admission into a membership. This can only be taken advantage of on the same day as the admission purchase. This cannot be combined with any membership discounts or promotions.

What types of memberships do you offer and how much do they cost?

Our basic levels of membership are Individual (1 person $70), Dual (2 people $80), and Household (4 people $100). You can add a plus package to any of the aforementioned levels for $30 and receive free parking during every visit and reciprocity at over 800 museums throughout North America through NARM. You can also purchase an All Star membership for $250. At the All Star level you can enjoy all of the benefits of a plus package membership, while providing the Museum with a greater level of support.

*Please note: Illinois resident children 18 and under are free and will not need to count toward your membership count. Non-Illinois resident children 12 and under are free.

How can I purchase a membership?

There are three easy ways to purchase a membership:

  1. Online
    Choose the membership that best fits your needs and follow the steps. It’s quick and easy.
  2. Onsite
    Our Visitor Services team would be happy to assist you!
  3. Phone
    Call (312) 642-4600 during Museum hours (Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday 12:00-5:00 p.m.
If I purchase a membership today when can I start using it?

You can begin using your membership immediately. Once your membership purchase is complete you will automatically be added to our system and you can visit the Museum the same day.

How long is my membership valid?

Your membership is valid for one year and expires on the last day of the month.

How do I purchase a gift membership?

There are three easy ways to purchase a gift membership:

  1. Online
    a. Select “this membership is a gift” under Registration
    b. Indicate where you would like the membership package sent under “gift information”
  2. Onsite
    Our Visitor Services team would be happy to assist you!
  3. Phone
    Call (312) 642-4600 during Museum hours (Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday 12:00-5:00 p.m.)
Do seniors receive a discount on membership?

Yes! The Museum offers $10 off of any membership level for seniors 65+. Seniors must renew onsite or over the phone at (312) 642-4600 to receive the discount.

This offer cannot be combined with any other offers.

Can I apply the cost of a Museum visit towards the cost of a membership?

Yes, you can! Save your admission receipt and bring it back to the Visitor Services desk to turn your admission into a membership. This can only be taken advantage of on the same day as the admission purchase. This cannot be combined with any membership discounts or promotions.

What types of memberships do you offer and how much do they cost?

Our basic levels of membership are Individual (1 person $70), Dual (2 people $80), and Household (4 people $100). You can add a plus package to any of the aforementioned levels for $30 and receive free parking during every visit and reciprocity at over 800 museums throughout North America through NARM. You can also purchase an All Star membership for $250. At the All Star level you can enjoy all of the benefits of a plus package membership, while providing the Museum with a greater level of support.

*Please note: Illinois resident children 18 and under are free and will not need to count toward your membership count. Non-Illinois resident children 12 and under are free.

How can I purchase a membership?

There are three easy ways to purchase a membership:

  1. Online
    Choose the membership that best fits your needs and follow the steps. It’s quick and easy.
  2. Onsite
    Our Visitor Services team would be happy to assist you!
  3. Phone
    Call (312) 642-4600 during Museum hours (Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday 12:00-5:00 p.m.
If I purchase a membership today when can I start using it?

You can begin using your membership immediately. Once your membership purchase is complete you will automatically be added to our system and you can visit the Museum the same day.

How long is my membership valid?

Your membership is valid for one year and expires on the last day of the month.

How do I purchase a gift membership?

There are three easy ways to purchase a gift membership:

  1. Online
    a. Select “this membership is a gift” under Registration
    b. Indicate where you would like the membership package sent under “gift information”
  2. Onsite
    Our Visitor Services team would be happy to assist you!
  3. Phone
    Call (312) 642-4600 during Museum hours (Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday 12:00-5:00 p.m.)
Do seniors receive a discount on membership?

Yes! The Museum offers $10 off of any membership level for seniors 65+. Seniors must renew onsite or over the phone at (312) 642-4600 to receive the discount.

This offer cannot be combined with any other offers.

How Does Membership Support the Museum?

Our members make Museum visits and virtual workshops free for more than 50,000 students annually. Your membership contribution also guarantees a home and care for millions of significant historic objects, images, and documents.

Join/Renew
NC_195_28_web-student-workshops

Interested in contributing more to our mission?

Join the Historical Alliance

Consider joining our Historical Alliance by making a gift of $500 or more. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

To join the Historical Alliance, contact Eva Rachau, director of development, at rachau@chicagohistory.org or (312) 799-2116.

Learn More

Join the Historical Alliance

Learn More
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Give the Gift of CHM

Looking for the perfect gift for the history buff in your life? Have a friend that’s new to the city and wants to learn more about its history?

Our membership is a great way to explore Chicago’s storied history and connect with others.

To purchase a gift membership:

  • Select “this membership is a gift” under Registration
  • You can indicate where you would like the membership package sent under “gift information”

If you should have any questions, please call (312) 642-4600.

Purchase Gift Membership

Membership Portal

Couldn’t make it to a live member program? Looking for previous issues of Chicago History magazine?

Your membership grants you access to select program recordings and magazine archives through our Member Portal!

View Portal

Forgot your access code? Contact Hannah Johnson, Member Relations Manager, at hjohnson@chicagohistory.org

Testimonials

Chicago History Museum.
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I’ve been a member for 55 years and I’m still fascinated by Chicago’s history. I became a member after I rented a room to host an event at the Chicago History Museum and was immediately charmed by the building and the staff.

The Chicago History Museum is a fantastic resource. One of my favorite Chicago museums. I appreciated how easy it was to take my elderly parents to the museum (its accessible/easy to navigate if you're not especially mobile), and it was something that we can all enjoy together.

I am a member of the Chicago History Museum because I am a second generation native Chicagoan. My father was born on Germania Place only a short distance from CHM's current location. He had a lot of stories about the city in his youth and because of this I became interested in Chicago history.

Chicago History Museum.
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