cary area public library district
1606 three oaks road...cary, illinois...60013...847-639-4210

museum adventure pass!

Cary Area Public Library card holders can check out a Macy's Museum Adventure Pass at the library for free admission, free parking or other perks at 17 museums and cultural institutions including Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Botanic Garden, Lake County Discovery Museum and Kohl's Children's Museum. With your Cary Area Library card, you can choose a pass for the attraction of your choice. Passes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are good for one week.

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Participating Museums

To begin your Museum Adventure, visit your local public library to check out a pass. Admission offers vary per museum, and are included with each listing below. Passes are restricted to registered borrowers of each library.

Arlington Heights Historical Museum celebrates the link between the past and the future. 110 W. Fremont Street Arlington Heights IL, 60004 Hours: Saturdays and Sundays at 2 & 3 pm. Groups of 6 or more by appointment. Website: / Admits 4 (Valid for tours only. Not valid for special events such as Irish Fest, House Walk, etc.)

Air Classics Museum of Air and Space Air Classics is an aviation museum  located at  Aurora Municipal Airport - ARR where the aircraft actually fly. You can sit in an A-7 that flew in the Gulf War and climb into the pilot's seat of a UH-1 Huey helicopter. The museum's collection includes aircraft, vehicles, uniforms and other aviation memorabilia from the 1930s to the present time. 

Bronzeville Children's Museum first and only African American children's museum. 9301 South Stony Island Avenue Chicago IL, 60617 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm (Hourly guided interactive tours for children ages 3-9. Tour hours are 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, and last tour is at 3:00 pm) Admits 2 (Buy one, get one free. Limit is two free admissions per family)

Brookfield Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society) a world leader in animal care, conservation, and education, Brookfield Zoo is celebrating 75 years of fun this year! 3300 Golf Road Brookfield IL, 60503 Hours: Jan. 1: Daily 10 to 5; April 4: Weekdays 10 to 5, Weekends 10 to 6; Memorial Day thru Labor Day: Daily 9:30 to 6 (7:30 pm on Sundays); After Labor Day: Weekdays 10 to 6, Weekends 10 to 6; October 25: Daily 10 to 5. Admits 2 (Passes are valid for Brookfield Zoo only and does not include free parking or admission to any internal exhibits or attractions, such as Dolphin Show, Butterfiles Children's Zoo, Temporary exhibits, Motor Safari, etc.)

Cantigny Park In addition to vast formal gardens and picnic and camping grounds, Cantigny offers two history-rich museums: the Robert R. McCormick Museum and the Cantigny First Division Museum, fascinating for children and researchers alike. 1S151 Winfield Road Wheaton IL, 60189 Hours: 10am - 5pm (Memorial Day - Labor Day); 10am - 4pm (Labor Day - Memorial Day) Admits 1 vehicle - Limited to one car per use.

Chicago Botanic Garden with its world-renowned plant collections and displays, it is one of the country's most visited public gardens and preeminent center for learning and scientific research. 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe IL, 60022 Hours: 8 am - sunset, everyday. Extended hours early June - Labor Day 7 am to 9 pm. Christmas Eve - close at 3pm. Admits 1 Vehicle - Limited to one car per use. No commercial vans or buses

Children's Museum in Oak Lawn The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn (CMOL) is the greater south Chicago metropolitan area’s leader in exhibits and activities that promote imagination, discovery, and “fun-while-learning” experiences.  CMOL has welcomed over 50,000 visitors from more than 71 Southland communities since July 27, 2009. 

Cuneo Museum and Gardens educates and enriches the visitor's experience to the legacies of the Insull and Cuneo families. 1350 N. Milwaukee Avenue Vernon Hills IL, 60061 Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10 am to 9 pm Admits 4

Elgin History Museum Preserves, collects, interprets and exhibits. Elgin history in Old Main, by an adaptive re-use of an 1856 landmark building. 360 Park Street Elgin IL, 60120 Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 12-4 p.m. March - December. Closed Jan. and Feb. Admits 4

Elgin Public Museum
Offers exhibits and educational programs with natural history and cultural themes for families, school groups, scouts, clubs, organizations, homeschoolers, and anyone who wants to have fun while learning! 225 Grand Boulevard Elgin IL, 60120 Hours: Noon to 4 pm Tuesday through Sunday. 10% Discount on all museum store purchases

Graue Mill and Museum an operating water wheel gristmill and homestead dedicated to maintaining a bridge between past and present. 3800 York Road Oak Brook IL, 60523 Hours: Open in 2009 through November 15. Tuesday though Sunday 10am to 4:30pm. Mill closed for the winter season. Reopening on April 6, 2010 through end of program. Admits 4 (2 adults and 2 children)

Hellenic Museum a center of Hellenic history, culture and the arts where the public can explore the legacy of the Greek immigrant experience in America. 801 W. Adams Street (4th floor) Chicago IL, 60607 Hours: Tues - Fri 10am-4pm; Sat. 11am-4pm Admits 4

KidsWork Children's Museum a regional, cultural institution that provides fun, hands-on interactive play which nurtures life-long learning and discovery. 11 S. White Street Frankfort IL, 60423 Hours: Summer Hours: Tues - Sat 9 to 3; Sunday: 11 to 4; 2nd and 4th Thursday 6 to 8. Fall hours: Tues to Sat 10 to 4; Sunday 12 to 4, and Thurs. evenings 6pm to 8pm. Admits 2 (Buy one, get one free. Limit is 2 free admissions per family)

Kohl Children's Museum provides 17 hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for young children in a fun, intimate environment. 2100 Patriot Boulevard Glenview IL, 60026 Hours: Monday 9:30am-12pm (School Year) 9:30am-5pm (June-Sept); Tuesday - Saturday 9:30am -5pm; Sunday 12pm -5pm Admits 2

Lake County Discovery Museum offers the fun of a big city museum, close to home with its permanent and temporary exhibits including an 11-foot Mastodon and the world's largest collection of picture postcards. 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road Wauconda IL, 60084 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Admits 2 (passes are valid for general admission only. Not valid for use during public programs and special events where special admission rate apply)

Mitchell Museum of the American Indian is the only museum in the Chicagoland area that focuses exclusively on the history, culture and arts of the North American native people. 3001 Central Street Evanston IL, 60201 Hours: T, W, F, Sat. 10 AM to 5 PM; Th. 10 AM to 8 PM; Sun. Noon to 4 PM; Closed Mondays Admits 4

Morton Arboretum a 1,700 acre outdoor museum of magnificent trees and beautiful landscapes with a four-acre Children's Garden and one-acre Maze Garden. 4100 Illinois Route 53 Lisle IL, 60532 Hours: The Arboretum is open 365 days a year! The grounds open at 7 a.m. year-round and close at 7 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier. Hours for Children's garden varies. Admits 4

Oriental Institute Museum presents informative and engaging exhibits and programs on ancient Egypt, Nubia, Israel, Iraq, Iran and Turkey. 1155 E. 58th Street Chicago IL, 60637 Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM; Wednesday: 10 AM - 8:30 PM; Sunday: Noon - 6:00 PM; Closed Mondays, July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Free Kid's i-Pod tour of their Egyptian Gallery

St. Charles Heritage Museum exhibits highlight early settlers, agriculture, industry, education, the Richard's Riot, millionaires and tourism in the Roaring Twenties. 215 E. Main Street St. Charles IL, 60174 Hours: Closed on Mondays; Tuesdays - Saturdays 10am - 4pm; Sundays 12 - 4pm. 15% discount on visitors entire gift shop purchase with some exclusions.