Know Before You Go: Visiting Safely during COVID
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Is the Field Museum open?
The Field is closed from November 20 through December 4. The safety of our staff and visitors is our top priority, and we hope to welcome you back as soon as it’s safe to do so. For assistance with previously purchased tickets, please email guestrelations@fieldmuseum.org or call 312.922.9410.
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Become a memberHealth and safety
We’ve implemented many health and safety measures at the Field, including:
- In accordance with City and State guidelines, face masks are required for all staff and visitors, except for children under 2
- 144 hand sanitizer stations are installed throughout the building
- Frequent, rigorous cleaning procedures follow CDC guidelines
- Floor markers help guide social distancing and direct one-way paths
- Exhibitions that are highly interactive or located in small spaces are temporarily closed
We are also limiting the number of visitors each day to 25% of our building’s capacity. With nearly half a million square feet of public space, we want to give you room to spread out and comfortably enjoy your time at the Field.
Order your Field masks or SUE masks online; they’re also for sale before you enter the museum.
Getting tickets
All tickets have an entry time. Please arrive at your designated time so you can enter promptly and have plenty of space to explore the museum.
We recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to secure your preferred date and time and to have a contactless experience when you arrive.
Members can reserve a free timed-entry ticket online.
Arriving at the museum
Make your way to the East entrance, which is the only entrance that’s open at this time. The East entrance is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Please leave at least six feet between yourself and other visitors as you get in line to enter. If you’ve already purchased a ticket, be prepared to show your printed ticket or your mobile device with the ticket.
When you’re ready to leave, you can exit through the East, North, or South exits.
All visitors will need to arrive at the museum's East entrance. It's on the side of the building that's closest to Lake Michigan and farthest from Lake Shore Drive.
Exhibitions
Most of our exhibition spaces are open and ready for you to explore, including the Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet, Inside Ancient Egypt, and the Grainger Hall of Gems. Outside, the Rice Native Gardens are perfect for a mini-nature walk or a peaceful break.
We’re also excited to share our newest special exhibition, Apsáalooke Women and Warriors. It’s a vibrant show that features collection items alongside contemporary beadwork, clothing, video animation, painting, and photography.
Some areas that have smaller spaces or interactive elements are temporarily closed. Browse all open exhibitions.
Social distancing and one-way paths
As you make your way through the museum, please follow any one-way paths that are marked on the floor. Take note of signs that indicate which areas of the museum are closed or have limited capacity. Additionally, guidelines from the State of Illinois recommend that you do not touch hands-on displays, touchscreens, or models.
While we’re not distributing paper maps at this time, you can find our maps and guides online.
As always, our staff members are here to help. They’ll also be wearing masks and can answer your questions from a safe distance. If needed, they can give you directions to an exhibition or point you to the nearest hand sanitizer station.
A visitor admires beaded horse regalia made by Lydia Falls Down in Apsáalooke Women and Warriors. For the annual Crow Fair Parade, Apsáalooke women dress in full regalia in addition to adorning their horses.
Latoya Flowers
Amenities
Please review all updates to our services as you plan for your visit.
Food
Due to updated COVID-19 restrictions in the City of Chicago, the Field's Bistro and Explorer restaurants are closed until further notice. However, you can bring a lunch or snack in a closed container. Please enjoy it in the designated picnic areas on the ground level: in the Siragusa Center and at the tables near the Sea Mammal dioramas.
You can bring your own closed water bottle. There are some contactless filling stations in the museum, though all manual fountains are shut off.
Store
For all your natural history-themed gifts and souvenirs, the museum store is open 10am–5pm, or you can shop online anytime. All store purchases directly support our staff and collections.
Restrooms
There are accessible restrooms on every level, including three family-friendly restrooms on the ground level.
An all-gender, single-stall restroom is available on the ground level near the James Simpson Theatre, and the restroom at the East entrance has a family restroom with an adult changing table. Our restrooms feature reminders asking you to maintain a six-foot distance from others and thoroughly wash your hands.
Coat check
Our coat check is currently closed. Please only bring bags or coats you can carry with you.
Wheelchair and stroller rentals
Wheelchairs are available for visitors to borrow at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis.
Strollers are available to rent for $3 (or $5 for double strollers) on a first-come, first-served basis.
Both wheelchairs and strollers are available at the East entrance and are fully sanitized between each use.
See you soon
We look forward to welcoming you back, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure a safe, enjoyable visit. On behalf of our staff, thank you for following all health and safety procedures to help protect them, you, and our other visitors.
If you’re not able to visit yet, there are many ways to stay connected to the Field from home.
Frequently asked questions
No, but please stay home if you’re not feeling well or have any symptoms of COVID-19. You can reschedule your ticket by contacting guestrelations@fieldmuseum.org.
Yes, each staff member’s temperature will be taken when they arrive for work at the museum.
If you are unable to wear a mask due to a disability or medical condition, you may substitute a looser fitting scarf or clear face shield as an alternative. Please bring a scarf or face shield with you as they are not available for sale at the museum. We ask all guests who are feeling unwell or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to delay their visit.
A maximum of 10 household members can visit together.
We cannot guarantee entry outside of your reservation window due to City and State guidelines for capacity. Please speak with Field Museum staff at the East entrance once you arrive to create a new reservation for the next available time slot.
Legal disclaimer
COVID-19 warning: We have taken enhanced health and safety measures—for you, our other guests, and our staff. You must follow all posted instructions while visiting the museum. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By visiting the Field Museum, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. Please help keep each other healthy.