Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Museums In the Park today announced free admission for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students to many of the city’s top cultural institutions. From August 27 through September 2, twelve different museums will welcome CPS students with free general admission.

“I want to thank Chicago’s museums and cultural institutions for their support and open arms in welcoming Chicago Public Schools students before the school year begins,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This is a unique opportunity for students and their families to learn and explore by visiting our city’s world class museums before school starts on September 5.”

All CPS students will be eligible for free general admission with proof of student ID or a copy of their spring 2017 school report card. Museums will also grant students free admission for one adult to accompany them, with some sites providing free entrance for the entire family. Visit individual museum websites for details.

“Museums In the Park is pleased to once again offer CPS Museum Days as a sign of our commitment to learning and our support of our city’s children and their families,” said Gary T. Johnson, president of the Chicago History Museum and president of Museums In the Park.

In celebration of back to school season, Museums In the Park will offer free CPS Museum Days for the second year in a row. In the inaugural year, over 3,500 individuals participated in the program. This provided a unique opportunity to encourage learning and exploration of the city’s world-class museums.

Chicago’s museums not only offer some of the most unique collections in the world, they are education centers that draw students and teachers and inspire people of all ages to learn about and appreciate science, art, history, wildlife and nature. Participating museums include:

Adler Planetarium: The Adler Planetarium—America’s First Planetarium—is more than a museum; it is a laboratory, a classroom and a community. Each year, nearly 570,000 visitors experience the museum’s interactive exhibitions, live planetarium shows, hands-on, minds-on STEM education programs and world-class collections. The museum’s scientists, historians and educators continue to inspire the next generation of explorers. Website: www.adlerplanetarium.org

Art Institute of Chicago: The Art Institute is the second largest art museum in the country and for the third year in a row, it ranks among the top three museums in the world according to TripAdvisor. It offers everything from the greatest collection of Impressionist paintings in the United States to an extraordinary collection of modern and contemporary are. The museum also hosts 35 special exhibitions a year, and with art on view spanning 5,000 years of creative expression, it has something for everyone! Website: www.artic.edu

Chicago History Museum: From the Union Stockyards to the Great Chicago Fire – there’s so much to explore at this North Side gem located in the scenic Lincoln Park neighborhood. Discover Chicago through dynamic exhibitions and programs or get out and explore the city through guided tours and events. If you live in Chicago or visit here and are curious about the city’s past, present and future, the Chicago History Museum should be your first stop. Website: www.chicagohistory.org

The DuSable Museum of African American History: The DuSable Museum of African American History, a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country. Our mission is to promote understanding and inspire appreciation of the achievements, contributions and experiences of African Americans through the preservation and presentation of our history, culture and art. Website: www.dusablemuseum.org

The Field Museum: The Field Museum, one of the world’s leading natural history museums, is home to 30 million artifacts and specimens, exciting exhibitions exploring the story of life on earth, and more than 150 scientists dedicated to fueling a journey of discovery and enabling solutions for a brighter future. Website: www.fieldmuseum.org

Lincoln Park Zoo: Lincoln Park Zoo, a historic Chicago landmark founded in 1868, is dedicated to connecting people with nature by providing a free, family-oriented wildlife experience. A leader in conservation science both globally and locally, the zoo exemplifies the highest-quality animal care and educational outreach. The not-for-profit zoo, managed by The Lincoln Park Zoological Society, is a member-supported organization and the only free privately managed zoo in the nation. Website: www.lpzoo.org

Museum of Contemporary Art: Located just one block east of the historic Water Tower and Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, the MCA is one of the world’s largest contemporary art venues. Our light-filled galleries feature ever-changing exhibitions that introduce you to artists from Chicago and around the world. And our performances, talks, tours, events, and workshops delight audiences of all kinds. The museum also features a new restaurant and engagement space, along with an award-winning store. Website: www.mcachicago.org

Museum of Science & Industry: The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, one of the world’s largest science centers, offers guests the opportunity to explore 14 acres of interactive, awardwinning exhibits, including the physics of weather with a 40-foot-tall whirling vortex in Science Storms, patterns that surround us in Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze, and the historic World War II story of the Museum’s largest artifact, the U-505 Submarine. Website: www.msichicago.org

National Museum of Mexican Art: The National Museum of Mexican Art showcases 3,000 years of creativity from both sides of the border, connecting museum visitors to the diversity of Mexican art and culture. Works from the museum’s 10,000-piece permanent collection are exhibited in the bilingual galleries of the first nationally accredited Latino museum in the United States. Website: www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

Nat’l Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture: Located in Humboldt Park, in the heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community, The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is the only free-standing cultural institution in the nation devoted to showcasing Puerto Rican arts and historic exhibitions year-round. Website: www.nmprac.org

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: Experience awe-inducing wonder in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, touch a critter from our animal lab and learn about our region’s ecology at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago’s urban gateway to nature and science. Website: www.naturemuseum.org

Shedd Aquarium: Explore the wonders of the aquatic world in the heart of downtown Chicago. Shedd Aquarium is home to 32,000 aquatic animals representing more than 1,500 species of invertebrates, fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals from waters around the world. Website: www.sheddaquarium.org