Overview
- Following Monday’s ticketing rollout, conservative critics seized on the requirement that Illinois residents show ID to claim the weekly free museum day, calling it inconsistent with Democratic opposition to voter ID laws.
- Founding members get first access to tickets on April 21, with public sales opening May 6 for timed-entry visits from June 19 through November 30.
- General admission is $30 for adults and $23 for children 3–11, with Illinois resident discounts at $26 for adults and $15 for children, and children 2 and under free.
- Free Tuesdays for Illinois residents begin June 23, with proof of residency accepted via a state driver’s license, state ID, Chicago CityKey, or a photo ID plus items like a lease, library card, student ID, utility bill, or work ID with pay stub.
- Construction is privately funded, but reporting highlights public spending on surrounding roads and utilities estimated around $350 million, even as most of the Jackson Park campus—gardens, trails, a library branch, playgrounds, and public art—remains free to visit.