Chicago museums to stay open late Friday to celebrate full reopening of city

Under Phase 5, all sectors of the economy will reopen without any capacity limits for gathering. Meaning festivals, weddings, conferences, sporting events and museums are making a return in full force.

SHARE Chicago museums to stay open late Friday to celebrate full reopening of city
The newly updated Boeing 727 exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry which will stay open late on June 11 in celebration of the city fully reopening.

The newly updated Boeing 727 exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry which will stay open late on June 11 in celebration of the city fully reopening.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Some of Chicago’s largest museums will stay open late Friday night to celebrate the city reopening for the first time in nearly 15 months.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the one-night commemoration Wednesday as the city readies itself for Friday, when the city enters what’s called Phase 5 — the lifting of capacity restrictions that had been in place since last spring.

Chicago will be one of the largest cities in the country to fully reopen.

Under Phase 5, all sectors of the economy will reopen. With no capacity limits, festivals, weddings, conferences, sporting events and museums are making a return in full force.

However, mask mandates and social-distancing guidelines still can apply in certain settings.

“One of the best ways we can celebrate our city’s reopening is by spending time at our renowned museums, which have undergone so many challenges over the course of this past year,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday. “That’s why I am thrilled that so many of our most iconic museums will be opening their doors until late this Friday night to give residents and visitors a head start on returning to a sense of normalcy.”

Lightfoot said she anticipates cultural institutions like these will safely and fully come back to life over the next few months.

The DuSable Museum of African American History is participating in the celebration by extending its DuSummer outdoor entertainment series to 10 p.m., but the actual museum won’t open until June 19.

Other participating museums will extend their closing time by several hours:

• Field Museum; 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

• Shedd Aquarium: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. 

• Museum of Science and Industry: 9:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

• National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, at 3015 W. Division St.: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

The DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood.

The DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood.

Sun-Times file

Correction: A previous version of this story indicated the DuSable Museum would be open to the public with hours being extended several hours into the evening. This information is incorrect as the museum doesn’t open until June 19 but its weekly outdoor concert series is what is being extended until 10 p.m.

The Latest
With Easter around the corner, chocolate makers and food businesses are feeling the impact of soaring global cocoa prices and it’s also hitting consumers.
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows.
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.