National Museum of Mexican Art
National Museum of Mexican Art
4.5
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Enjoy one of the country's largest collections of Mexican art and culture, including a vibrant textile collection including indigenous outfits and weavings, folk art including masks and Día de los Muertos artifacts and ephemera documenting the Chicano Movement. Open daily 10am-5pm, closed Mondays.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Lower West Side
How to get there
- Damen • 4 min walk
- 18th • 5 min walk
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4.5
250 reviews
Excellent
173
Very good
52
Average
19
Poor
4
Terrible
3
Kenneth W
Oak Park, IL54 contributions
Dec 2019
I have visited this museum many times and we love to take out of town visitors here. Chicagoland friends who we take are amazed they hadn't heard of it. The permanent collection is a great spectrum of Mexican American art, some very unusual. The seasonall exhibits like Dios de Muetre are outstanding and often there is a special exhibit which is always interesting and often challenging. And, a plus--it is free.
Written 10 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Happy Traveler
Chicago, IL3,057 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
A beautiful art museum that is both fascinating, colorful and educating! The museum has street parking around it as well as its own pay parking lot that isn’t expensive. Museum entry is FREE but you can make a donation. The museum is tastefully done, very well organized in sections and displays many art mediums (painting,sculptures, glass mosaics, pottery etc…). The history of Mexico is explained simply for everyone to understand and differentiate their culture from other Hispanic origins. We really enjoyed the day of the dead items, Diego Rivera sketch and Frida Kahlo wing exhibits. The gift store was amazing and had so many interesting hand made items and crafts. There is so much you can learn in this museum and I can’t wait to go back again to visit and broaden my knowledge of Mexico!
Written 19 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
richardmiller27
Chicago, IL5 contributions
Oct 2019
Our friends suggested one day in October that we must attend this museum. Very cool art inside with wonderful descriptive stories of the artist showcased and their inspiration for the work. The best part: it's free! Afterward, we had a wonderful meal in Pilsen. A terrific evening for sure.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C H
35 contributions
Mar 2023
It is conveniently located in the city with attaching paid parking lot. The museum exhibits are great with ample viewing space. The exhibits are nicely maintained and well organized. The staff are helpful with questions.
Written 28 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abroadwithashley
Minneapolis, MN1,724 contributions
Jul 2022
Highly recommended. Our only caveat is that there was quite a bit of love (like a lot) for Frieda here. That probably matches the love she has around the world, but it does mean that space is used in the museum that could have also been used for other pieces/artists. It’s a small thing though, and you should absolutely make this museum a stop. We loved the social commentary that came with a lot of the artwork.
Written 25 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prowander
San Francisco, CA456 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
Extraordinary in many ways. I was surprised at both the number of exhibits and the size of the museum. A world class museum off the beaten path but a place one must visit. Shockingly --- it's completely free.
Written 10 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fideo83
Chicago, IL27 contributions
As a mexican it was really sad to me to see this museum. Poor Collection and tons of misspelled words. Thank God it was free. Wouldn't Pay
Written 12 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard B
London150 contributions
Sept 2019
I am from the UK and went to this museum on the basis of the TA description above - in particular to see " ...a vibrant textile collection including indigenous outfits and weavings ....." .
And ...... the Museums internet site says we are "..... home to one of the country’s largest Mexican art collections, including more than 9,000 seminal pieces from ancient Mexico ......."
Bearing in mind the legacy left by the Aztecs and Maya, I thought I would be in for a REAL treat. When I asked at the ticket office where I could find these "ancient textiles & weavings" she looked mystified! Sure enough I found NOTHING of this nature at all at the museum.
All I found primarily was what appeared to me to be a collection of modern mexican art, influenced by their RECENT past (difficulties) I guess? - very little before mid C20 - and recent art mostly in the style of our European 'Contemporary Art'. Now, since I have little time for OUR Contemporry Art, yes, you guessed it, I had little time for THIS collection - and therefore left feeling seriously misled!! So, a wasted journey for me ......but may be not for you?? But you have been warned as to what to ACTULLY expect to see !!
And ...... the Museums internet site says we are "..... home to one of the country’s largest Mexican art collections, including more than 9,000 seminal pieces from ancient Mexico ......."
Bearing in mind the legacy left by the Aztecs and Maya, I thought I would be in for a REAL treat. When I asked at the ticket office where I could find these "ancient textiles & weavings" she looked mystified! Sure enough I found NOTHING of this nature at all at the museum.
All I found primarily was what appeared to me to be a collection of modern mexican art, influenced by their RECENT past (difficulties) I guess? - very little before mid C20 - and recent art mostly in the style of our European 'Contemporary Art'. Now, since I have little time for OUR Contemporry Art, yes, you guessed it, I had little time for THIS collection - and therefore left feeling seriously misled!! So, a wasted journey for me ......but may be not for you?? But you have been warned as to what to ACTULLY expect to see !!
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jimtons
Chicago, IL117 contributions
May 2018 • Family
This is a small museum set in a city park in part of the Mexican American neighborhood on the near south side. You can get to it easily from downtown Chicago. Currently there is an absolutely terrific exhibit called "Design Chicago" which highlights the contributions of Mexico as well as Mexican immigrants to the art and architecture/design of Chicago. There are wonderful examples of sculpture and painting/prints by Mexican immigrants and just as importantly there is a wonderful presentation of the interaction between American artists and Mexican artists either through travel to Mexico, or the influence of the Mexican Revolution, or productive artistic relationships between Mexican immigrants and Americans. This exhibit also explains the role of Hull House and its founder Jane Adams in encouraging artistic expression of Mexican immigrants. It also shows the influence that the Mexican Revolution had on civil rights movement. There are terrific pieces here that you would not ordinarily see. An exhibit from the permanent collection demonstrates the variety of artistic expression in Mexican and Mexican American art and is well worth seeing. There is street parking. It is within 2 blocks of Ashland Ave and one block of 18th street so that you can probably get there by public transportation, however a car to taxi are probably the easiest way to get there. You can find good Mexican restaurants along 18th street, east of Ashland.
Written 28 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RetiredTraveler01
Chicago, IL81 contributions
Nov 2019
That this museum is free challenges the belief system... it is a wonderful museum. The permanent galleries provide
valuable historical reference. The new openings are invariable stunning with bold Latina viewpoints. And course, the
Day of the Dead annual displays are not to be missed... they are spectacular.
valuable historical reference. The new openings are invariable stunning with bold Latina viewpoints. And course, the
Day of the Dead annual displays are not to be missed... they are spectacular.
Written 6 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much is the entry fee?
Written 4 September 2019
There is no fee. You can make a donation if you want to.
Written 6 September 2019
Is there a bag check area or lockers?
Written 2 September 2018
I don't think there is but it is a small friendly museum and my guess is that they would keep something at the front desk for you.
Written 2 September 2018
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