Located in the heart of downtown, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s best art museums, home to a collection of art that spans centuries and the globe. Among the museum’s highlights are the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside Paris; iconic works by celebrated American artists like Edward Hopper, Archibald Motley, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Grant Wood; and one of the finest international modern and contemporary collections of any panoramic art museum in the country.

Admission is always free for children under 14 and Chicago teens under 18; it’s also free for Illinois residents on Third Thursdays (including September 17) from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.