CALIFORNIA



L.A. and Riverside County

Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Free admission Fridays from 6-9pm for Shark Lagoon Nights. 562-590-3100, http://www.aquariumofpacific.org" target="_blank">www.aquariumofpacific.org. (SB)

Arboretum of Los Angeles County, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Free admission third Tuesday (Jan. 20) from 9am – 4:30pm. 626-821-3222, http://www.arboretum.org" target="_blank">www.arboretum.org. (SGV)

Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Free admission to museum first Sunday (Jan. 4) 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Bowers Kidseum (1802 N. Main St.) 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 714-567-3600, 714-480-1520, http://www.bowers.org" target="_blank">www.bowers.org. (OC)

California Science Center, 700 State Dr., L.A. Free every day to permanent exhibitions; open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. 323-724-3623, www.californiasciencecenter.org. (LA)

Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Free admission the first Wednesday (Jan. 7) from 11am – 5pm. 323-937-4230, www.cafam.org. (LA)

Fowler Museum at UCLA, UCLA Campus, Westwood. The museum is free every day; open noon – 5 p.m. Wed.-Sun. and noon – 8 p.m. Thurs. 310-825-4361, www.fowler.ucla.edu. (WS)

Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., L.A. Free every day; open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tues.-Thurs. and Sun.; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri.-Sat. $8 parking fee. 310-440-7300, www.getty.edu. (LA)

Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades. Free every day, but timed tickets are required; open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thurs. – Mon. $8 parking fee. 310-440-7300, www.getty.edu. (LA)

Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Free admission every Thursday from 11aml – 5pm. 310-443-7000, www.hammer.ucla.edu (LA)

Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Free admission the first Thursday (closed Jan. 1 so the free day is Jan. 8) from noon – 4:30pm. Tickets are required. 800-838-3006 for tickets; 626-405-2141 for general information, www.huntington.org. (SGV)

Japanese American National Museum, 369 First St., L.A. Free admission every Thursday from 5-8pm and the third Thursday (Jan. 15) from 11am – 8pm. 213-625-0414, www.janm.org. (LA)

Kidspace Children’s Museum, Brookside Park, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena. Free admission the first Tuesday (Jan. 6) from 5-8pm. 626-449-9144, www.kidspacemuseum.org. (SGV)

L.A. County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Free admission every day from 5-8pm (closed Wed.); kids 18 and younger always admitted free. 323-857-6000, www.lacma.org. (LA)

Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. Free admission the second Tuesday (Jan. 13) from 10am – 5pm. 323-667-2000, www.autrynationalcenter.org. (LA)

Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Free admission every Thursday from 5-8pm. (closed Jan. 1) Kids under 12 are free. 213-626-6222, www.moca.org. (LA)

Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. Free admission the first Tuesday (Jan. 6) from 9:30am – 5pm. 213-763-3466, www.nhm.org. (LA)

Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena. Free admission the first Friday (Jan. 2) from 6-9pm; kids 18 and younger always admitted free. 626-449-6840, www.nortonsimon.org. (SGV)

Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. Free admission the fourth Friday (Jan. 23) from 10am – 6pm. 626-449-2742, www.pacificasiamuseum.org. (SGV)

Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Free admission the first Tuesday (Jan. 6) from 9:30am – 5pm. 323-934-7243, www.tarpits.org. (LA)

Paley Center for Media, 465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. Free admission every day. 310-786-1000, www.mtr.org. (LA)

San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands. Free admission the first Sunday (Jan. 4) from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 909-307-2669, www.sbcountymuseum.org. (IE)

San Diego County

Balboa Park, San Diego

First Tuesday
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center,
Centro Cultural de la Raza
Model Railroad Museum***
Natural History Museum***
*** Free to San Diego County Residents and Active Military only


Second Tuesday
Museum of Photographic Arts
Museum of San Diego History
Veterans’ Museum and Memorial Center
*** Free to San Diego County Residents and Active Military only


Third Tuesday
San Diego Art Institute
Mingei International Museum
San Diego Museum of Art
San Diego Museum of Man
Japanese Friendship Garden ***
*** Free to San Diego County Residents and Active Military only



Fourth Tuesday
San Diego Air & Space Museum*** (See Special Information following museum listings)
San Diego Automotive Museum (last admission 3:45pm) **
San Diego Hall of Champions***
House of Pacific Relations International Cottages
*** Free to San Diego County Residents and Active Military only

San Francisco

The Exploratorium
Free on the first Wedenesday of every month

Legion of Honor & de Young
Free on the first Tuesday of every month. Special exhibition fees still apply.

SFMOMA
Free on the first Tuesday of every month.

Asian Art Museum
Free on the first Sunday of every month. Thanks Target!


COLORADO

Denver Zoo!
2009 Free Days

January 10
January 19
February 14
February 24
October 7
October 25
November 8
November 11


Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Boulevard
Denver
(303) 322-7009
2009 SCFD Free Days

* Sunday, January 11
* Monday, February 2
* Wednesday, March 18
* Sunday, April 19
* Sunday, May 31
* Wednesday, June 10
* Monday, July 13
* Wednesday, August 12
* Sunday, September 13
* Sunday, October 4
* Monday, November 2
* Sunday, November 22

Free Days are for Colorado residents only. A fee still applies to IMAX films, and Planetarium shows.


Denver Botanic Gardens

Free days for Colorado residents at Denver Botanic Gardens (York Street location):

Monday, Jan. 19
Monday, Feb. 16
Monday, March 16
Monday, July 20
Thursday, August 20
Saturday, Sept. 19
Friday, Oct. 23

Free days for Colorado residents at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield:

Friday, Jan. 2
Friday, Feb. 6
Friday, March 6
Friday, April 3
Friday, May 1
Friday, June 5
Friday, Aug. 7
Friday Nov. 6
Friday, Dec. 4


Denver Performing Arts
2009 SCFD Funded Free Days

Inana
January 15, Ricketson Theatre

Dusty & the Big Bad World
January 22, Space Theatre

Richard III
January 29, Stage Theatre

August Wilson’s Radio Golf
March 19, Space Theatre

A Prayer for Owen Meany
March 26, Stage Theatre

Sunsets and Margaritas
April 2, Ricketson Theatre

Quilters
May 21, Stage Theatre


worth mentioning
chicagochildrensmuseum
Target Free First Mondays
First Monday of every month: Free admission for ages 15 and under.

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


ILLINOIS

The Museum of Science and Industry
57th Street and Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
Monday - Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2009 Free Day Schedule

General admission is free on the following dates:
January 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
April 22
June 1 2 3 4 5 19
October 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30
November 11

adler planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive • Chicago IL 60605 • 312-922-STAR (7827)
January 5, 12-16, 20, & 27
February 3, 9-13, 17, & 24
March 3, 10 & 17
April 21 & 28
May 5, 12, 19 & 26
June 7-12
September 1, 8, 14-18, 22, & 29
October 6, 13, 20, & 27
November 3, 10, 17, & 24
December 1, 8, 15, & 22



Chicago History Museum
Free Days
The Museum is free on Mondays.

Brookfield Zoo
Free Admission
Zoo admission is free on Tuesdays and Thursdays through February . Free zoo admission is good only during normal zoo hours. Zoo admission fees apply to Holiday Magic dates.

Museum of Contemporary Art
Admission is free all day on Tuesdays

Swedish American Museum Center
Free admission: second Tuesday of every month.

Spertus Museum
Free for everyone:
Wednesdays 10 am — 12 noon
and Thursdays 2 — 6 pm

DuSable Museum of African American History
Sundays are FREE to all

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Thursdays are suggested donation days

INDIANA

Children's Museum of Indianapolis
More Info
Free Days:
January 19, 2009 — MLK Day
February 16, 2009 — Presidents Day
April 26, 2009 — El Dia de Los Niños

Target Free Family Night
Open free for Families the 1st Thursday of each month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

MICHIGAN

Visit your public library to check out a pass for two or four free admissions, depending on location, to one of these exciting museums.

Locations that Admit 4:
Anton Art Center
Arts & Scraps
Automotive Hall of Fame
Birmingham/Bloomfield Art Center
Birmingham Historical Museum & Park
Detroit Artists Market
Detroit Children's Museum
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Grosse Pointe Historical Society
Howell Nature Center
Lorenzo Cultural Center (closed until February 3rd, 2009)
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) (closed December 29th through February 5th)
Pewabic Pottery
The Scarab Club
University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History
Wyandotte Historical Museum (closed during the months of January, February and March)
Ypsilanti Historical Museum

Locations that Admit 2:
Arab American National Museum
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Cranbrook Art Museum (closed January 12th through 31st)
Cranbrook House & Garden (closed until Spring '09)
Cranbrook Institute of Science
Detroit Historical Museum
Detroit Institute of Arts
Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
Ford Rouge Factory Tour
Henry Ford Estate, Fair Lane (not accepting passes until January 2nd, 2009)
Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm

MINNESOTA

Twin Cities Area

Macy's Adventure Pass: http://www.melsa.org/museumadventurepass/

Locations that admit 4
Bell Museum of Natural History
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minnesota Museum of American Art
Weisman Art Museum

Locations that admit 2
American Swedish Institute
Bakken Museum
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Firetrucks, Railroads and Streetcars
Firefighters Hall & Museum
Minnesota Streetcar Museum
Minnesota Transportation Museum
Hennepin History Museum
Historic Fort Snelling
Minnesota History Center
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Minnesota Zoo
The Landing - Minnesota River Heritage Park
The Museum of Russian Art
The Raptor Center
The Works: Hands-On, Minds-On Museum
TRACES Museum Center for History and Culture
Twin City Model Railroad Museum
Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Minneapolis Institute of Arts- ALWAYS free!
http://www.artsmia.org/index.php?section_id=6

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis - Target Free Thursday Nights, Free First Saturday
Every Thursday night from 5–9 p.m.
1750 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis MN, 55403
612-375-7600

Minnesota Children's Museum - Target Free 3rd Sundays
10 West Seventh Street
St. Paul MN, 55102
651-225-6001

MN Zoo- Apple Valley, MN. No free days, but below is information for Military families:
Military Family Week: June 29 – July 5, 2009
The Zoo salutes our troops with special discounts to military personnel (active, retired, and civilian) and their families, including half price Zoo admission, half price monorail ride, two-for-one IMAX tickets, and more! (Proof of military service is required.)

Como Zoo- St Paul, MN. ALWAYS free!
Rochester

Rochester Art Center- Free admission through 2009. (UPDATE: Okay so it's actually just for Olmsted County residents, BUT if there's any other SD'ers that are from Olmsted County, this is a good deal! Otherwise no so slick for anyone else http://www.postbulletin.com/newsm...5&a=377938 )


MISSOURI
St. Louis Zoo - free daily admission...some exhibits charge a nominal fee- skip the safari pass if there are more than 5 visitors in your group or you may return within a year. If you have 5 in your family, buy a membership. Free admission to special exhibits in the first hour the zoo is open.
St. Louis Art Museum- free daily admission. Fee for special exhibits except on Fridays.
Missouri History Museum - free daily admission- special exhibits free on Tuesdays
St. Louis Science Center- free daily admission- special exhibits have fees.
St. Louis Gateway Arch Museum- free- charge to ride tram to top or see movies.

New York City

useful links: http://www.nyc-arts.org/categories/30/museums
http://nycgo.com/?event=view.nav&...ry_id=2816
*Remember most if not all galleries are free! To start you off:http://chelseaartgalleries.com/
*Note about suggested admissions: People who do not wish to make a contribution usually will make a gesture of contribution by giving some "insignificant" amount like 10 cents for admission. Also, if you purchase advance tickets like via the Internet, you will have to pay the full suggested admission (plus fees!).
*The guilt factor: Although anyone on this site probably will have no qualms about paying less than full price, I have encountered many people who feel "bad" for making a small contribution. There's no need for this as an institution has a suggested admission price because they can afford to.

American Folk Art Museum
Free admission Fri 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

American Museum of Natural History
Suggested admission + extra charge for special exhibits (you have to pay at the admissions desk; if you purchase from the kiosks, you will pay full price)

American Numismatic Society
Free

Anthropology Museum of the People of New York
Free

Art Lab at Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Free

Asia Society
Admission is free to all Friday 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm (free Fridays suspended July 4 to Labor Day)

Bertha & Karl Leubsdorf Art Gallery at Hunter College
Free

Bronx Museum of the Arts
Free on Fridays

Bronx River Art Center and Gallery
Free

Bronx Zoo
Wednesday admission is a pay-what-you-wish donation + extra charge for special rides and attractions

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Free Tuesdays (all day), Saturdays 10–12 noon (except on days with special programs), and Weekdays (November 20 – February 29)

Brooklyn Children's Museum
Free admission before 11am every Saturday and Sunday

Brooklyn Museum
Suggested admission + extra charge for some special exhibits
Free Target First Saturday (once a month)

Center for Architecture
Free

Children's Museum of Manhattan
On the first Friday of every month, CMOM is open from 5-8pm and admission is FREE

Children’s Museum of the Arts
Pay-as-you-wish Thurs 4-6pm

The Cloisters (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Suggested admission; Fee includes same-day admission to the Main Building of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Free on Sundays from Dec. 7th through Jan. 25

The Drawing Center
Free

Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Technically free but you have to take the $12 ferry (or swim there)

The Frick Collection
Sundays, pay what you wish from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College
Free

The Hispanic Society of America
Free

The Museum at the International Center of Photography
Voluntary Contribution Fridays 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

The Jewish Museum
Saturdays: Free 11:00 am - 5:45 pm

The Judaica Museum
Free

Lehman College Art Gallery
Free

Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos
Free

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Suggested admission + no extra charge for special exhibits; Fee includes same-day admission to the Cloisters
I highly recommend the free Gallery Talks which you can search for in the calendar

Morgan Library & Museum
Admission is free on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission to the McKim rooms is without charge during the following times: Tuesday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m to 6 p.m.

Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
Free

Museum of American Illustration
Free

Museum of Arts & Design
Thurs. 6:00 - 9:00 pm: Pay-What-You-Wish

Museum of Chinese in America
Free on Friday (will reopen in new location spring ’09)

Museum of Jewish Heritage
Free admission every Wednesday from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Museum of Modern Art
Target Free Friday Nights every Friday evening, 4:00–8:00 p.m.

Museum of the City of New York
Suggested admission; Free if you say “I’m a neighbor;” Free admission on Sundays between 10 AM and 12 PM.

Museum of the Moving Image
Suggested admission

National Museum of the American Indian
Free

New Museum of Contemporary Art
CIT Free Thursday Evenings (from 7 PM to 9 PM)

New York Aquarium
Admission on Fridays from 3:00 p.m. until closing is pay-what-you-wish (in effect Nov. 3, 2008–April 3, 2009)

New York Botanical Garden
Grounds only admission is free to everyone all day on Wednesdays and from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays

New York City Fire Museum
Suggested admission

New York Hall of Science
Free admission September through June, on Fridays from 2 – 5 pm and Sundays from 10 – 11 am

New York Historical Society
Free admission on Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m

New York Public Library (Humanities and Social Sciences, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Science, Industry and Business Library, etc.) http://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions.cfm
Free

Nicholas Roerich Museum
Free

The Noguchi Museum
First Friday of every month, Museum admission is pay what you wish

Police Academy Museum
Free

P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center
Suggested admission; Free admission with Museum of Modern Art ticket presented within 30 days of the date on the ticket (Warm Up and other events not free)

Queens County Farm Museum
Free (special events not free)

Queens Museum of Art
Suggested admission

Robert Lehman Gallery at UrbanGlass
Free

Rockaway Museum
Free

Rubin Museum of Art
Gallery admission is free to all Fridays 7–10 p.m

Socrates Sculpture Park
Free

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Pay what you wish Fri 5:45-7:45 pm (As of May 15, 2009, Pay What You Wish will move from Friday to Saturday evenings)

Staten Island Botanical Garden Grounds
Free (does not include NY Chinese Scholar’s Garden and Connie Gretz’s Secret Garden)

Staten Island Museum
Suggested admission

Staten Island Zoo
Free admission on Wednesday after 2 PM, donations welcome

Studio Museum in Harlem
Suggested admission; Target Free Sundays

Waterfront Museum
Free, donation requested

Wave Hill
Tuesday: Free all day during off-peak months (January–April, July–August, November–December)
Tuesday: Free 9am to noon during peak months (May–June, September–October)
Saturday: Free 9am to noon year-round

Whitney Museum of American Art
Fridays, 6–9 pm pay-what-you-wish admission

William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge
Free

Yeshiva University Museum
Free Mondays 3:30-7:30 pm


TEXAS

Dallas Museum of Art - free Thursdays 5-9pm and first Tuesday of the month - special fee for some exhibits ($15 garage parking)

Kimbell Art Museum - free everyday for permanent exhibit (free parking everyday) - fee for special exhibits (1/2 price all-day Tuesdays and Friday 5-8pm)