Museum Passes

Museum Adventure Pass

Use the smartest card - your library card - to receive admission or a special discount at participating Chicago area cultural destinations!

Stop by the Youth or Adult Services Desk with your library card to check out a pass to one of the following museums: (click red button for more info!)

American Writers Museum
Admission Half Price.

Aurora Regional Fire Museum
Buy one, get one free of equal or lesser value. Valid for General Admission only. Not valid for special events, group tours or programs, and cannot be combined with other offers.

Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County
Admits 2 (General Admission Tickets).

Bronzeville Children's Museum
Admits 2 (Buy one, get one free. Limit is two admissions per family).

Brookfield Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society)
Admits 2 (Passes are valid for Brookfield Zoo only and does not include parking or admission to any internal exhibits or attractions, such as Dolphin Show, Butterflies!, Children's Zoo, Temporary exhibits, Motor Safari, etc.).

Cantigny Park
Admits 1 vehicle - Limited to one car per use.

Cernan Earth and Space Center at Triton College
Purchase one planetarium ticket, get one adult or two children/senior planetarium tickets free.

Chicago Botanic Garden
Admits 1 car at 50% off per pass.

Children's Museum in Oak Lawn
This pass is a buy one/get one free pass. Pay for one adult and the child gets in free. If additional people are with you, each of them pay the regular admission price.

Elgin History Museum
Admits 4 people per pass.

Elgin Public Museum
10% Discount on all museum store purchases.

Ellwood House Museum
Pass valid for up to five (5) youth ages 6-17, plus two (2) adults. Not valid for Holiday Tours or Holiday Event Weekend.

Geneva Lake Museum
Two for one. One adult pays and the second adult is free. Kids under 18 Free Admission.

Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
General Admission- Buy One Get One free entry is from 10 AM until one hour before the Museum closes (Last entry is 4 PM each day except 7 PM on Thurs). The Museum reserves the right to request identification upon entry to verify ticket purchase type.

Illinois Railway Museum
2 free passes with the purchase of 2, or 1 free pass with the purchase of 1.

KidsWork Children's Museum
Buy one admission, get one free.

Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
1/2 off admission passes for General Museum Admission Only - Discount not available on Fridays.

Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Admits 2 free for regular museum admission.

Naper Settlement
1. Pass is valid on days general admission to Naper Settlement is offered.
2. Pass allows a maximum of two people to receive free admission when purchasing 1 or more admission tickets.
3. Pass is not valid for special events admittance or events sponsored on museum grounds by others with entry fee.

Institute for Study of Ancient Cultures
One free Museum Explorer's Guide per pass. General admission is free (donation suggested).

Pleasant Home Foundation
Buy 1, get 1 free Tour Admission.

St. Charles Heritage Museum
15% discount on visitors entire gift shop purchase with some exclusions.

Volo Auto Museum
Half-price admission per pass, for up to six persons of any age.

Explore More Illinois

Explore More Illinois allows cardholders from participating RAILS and IHLS public libraries to reserve free and discounted admission, parking, and gift store purchases from cultural attractions in Illinois, including museums, cultural centers, zoos, aquariums, gardens, historical societies, park districts, and more.


List of Current Attractions


How do I access Explore More Illinois?

CLICK HERE to go to the website. Then enter your library barcode and password or PIN.

I cannot log into Explore More Illinois. What should I do?

Please call or visit your library. You may have an issue with your account, such as an expired card or fines. Your library will assist you in solving the problem.

Have more questions?

Check out their F. A.Q. HERE.

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