Free -- or "Pay What You Can" -- Admission Days at Museums and Zoos

The price of admission to many museums has become so expensive that many people on a tight budget aren't able to see the many treasures these museums hold.

That's why many museums and zoos have a "free admission day" once a week, once a month, or even once a year. Other museums have a day when they will accept any amount a patron wishes to pay.

We have put together just a few examples of these "free" or "pay what your can" admission days to show you that it's possible to get free or reduced admission to even the largest museums.

However, there are many thousands of museums all over the world. To find museums with free or "pay what you can" admission days in your area, search Google for "museum free admission" or "museum donation day" or "museum pay what you can" plus your area.

Canada

Montreal's Museum Day Once a year, all of Montreal's museums are free.

United States

California

Los Angeles

Craft and Folk Art Museum Free admission on the first Wednesday of every month.

San Francisco

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Purchase your CityPass at the museum and enjoy free admission to the museum and 4 other San Francisco attractions, and a MUNI and Cable Car pass, for the low price of $42. You can also enjoy free admission with the Go San Francisco Card.

Free Admission: "Target Tuesdays" courtesy of Target Stores on the first Tuesday of every month. SFUSD students are always free.

Reduced Admission: Thursday evenings after 5, price of admission is $5. See "Special Museum Nights"

California Academy of the Sciences Free admission for all on the first Wednesday of each month. Part of the CityPass system.

Chinese Historical Society of America "Free to the public on the first Thursday of every month"

Exploratorium "Free admission on first Wednesday of each month; however, due to capacity limits, groups of 10 or more are required to make reservations or will not be admitted."

Museum of Craft and Folk Art Check the site for free public openings of new exhibits. Under 18 years old, free.

Oakland Museum of California Free Second Sunday of each month (does not include special exhibitions)

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) First Tuesday of each month is free. Thursday evenings, 6 to 9, is half price.

Illinois

Chicago

Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum typically has free Mondays and Tuesday in January and February and again mid-Septebmer through mid-December. There is an additional fee for shows.

Art Institute of Chicago
Ford Free Tuesdays. "Join us each Tuesday for a free dose of culture. Thanks to Ford Motor Company, the Art Institute is able to provide exciting and constantly changing free programs and activities throughout the day. Drop by any time—there’s always something to see on Ford Free Tuesdays."

Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art
Admission is free from 5 - 8 pm on Tuesday evenings. Marshall Field's Free Tuesday Evenings are generously sponsored by Marshall Field's Gives.

Chicago Childrens Museum
Free Family Night sponsored by Kraft: Thursday evenings, 5 - 8pm Located at the Navy Pier.

Lincoln Park Zoo
Free 365 days a year (parking is $12).

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
Free everyday.

Museum of Science and Industry
typically has free Mondays and Tuesday in January and February and again mid-

September through mid-December. There is an additional fee for shows.

New York

New York City

New York Museums with Free Afternoons or Evenings. "Many museums set aside a period during the week when the regular admission price is waived... an alphabetical listing of some of the museums that offer free admission to those who time their visits just right.... "

See Frommer's very excellent listing of museums for a quick glance at the highlights, regular admission, etc.

CityPass Get admission to 6 major NYC attractions for $53. Includes: American Museum of Natural History •Guggenheim Museum •The Museum of Modern Art •Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum •Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises •Empire State Building Observatory

American Museum of the Moving Image ".... Admission to galleries is free on Fridays, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. (Film screenings not included.)"

Asia Society "... Admission is free to all Friday 6pm to 9pm (Free Fridays suspended July 4 to Labor Day)..."

Brooklyn Botanical Garden offers free admission on Tuesdays and Saturdays... and weekdays Mid-November thru February. Children under 16 and seniors are always free.

Children's Museum of the Arts Pay as you wish on Thursdays 4 to 6 p.m. "...New York City's only hands-on art museum for children. Our Mission is to create opportunities for children, aged 1 to 12 years old, to reach their full potential in the visual & performing arts. Every day children work with paint, glue, paper and recycled materials to paint, sculpt, build and imagine. They can also play in the ball pond & art house, enjoy independent projects & activities, explore our exhibitions & meet other New York families."

Guggenheim Museum "... On Friday evenings from 6–8 PM the museum hosts Pay What You Wish, where admission is by donation."

International Center of Photography Voluntary Contribution Fridays from 5 to 8 pm. ICP Bookstore offers frequent booksignings on Fridays from 5 to 7:30 with DJ and complimentary wine.

Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum 20% off coupon

Metropolitan Museum of Art Admission prices are "recommended" only.... so pay what you can afford... full admission or more if you can. Includes admission to The Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park. Highly Recommended. MMOA offers a wide variety of programs, many included with admission.

Museum of Arts and Design Admission on Thursdays from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm is on a pay-what-you-wish basis.

Museum of Modern Art "...Admission is free for all visitors during Target Free Friday Nights, sponsored by Target, every Friday evening, 4:00–8:00 p.m. Tickets for Target Free Friday Nights are not available in advance." Several dining options are available.

National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center Free at all times. Offers many special events.

New Museum of Contemporary Art Thursdays $3 admission 6-8pm

New York Botanical Garden "...Grounds admission is free to everyone all day Wednesdays and on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (Fees for all other venues—Conservatory, Children's Adventure Garden, etc.—still apply at these times.)"

Noguchi Museum (Long Island) First Friday of each month, pay what you wish. "... Created by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988), The Noguchi Museum opened in 1985, presenting a comprehensive collection of the artist's works in stone, metal, wood, and clay, as well as models for public projects and gardens, dance sets, and Akari Light Sculptures. The Museum--chartered as The Noguchi Museum--is housed in thirteen galleries within a converted factory building and encircles a garden containing major granite and basalt sculptures." Note: "... Isamu Noguchi's designs for the stage are an important aspect of what he called  "the sculpture of spaces",  complementing his landscape projects as another means of making sculpture useful in society.  His most well-known works for the stage are the dance sets created for Martha Graham..."

The Jewish Museum "... Pay What You Wish Thursdays, 5 - 8 pm.."

Whitney Museum of American Art "... Friday 1–9 pm (6–9 pm pay-what-you-wish admission)"

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