Community Corner

Parents Talk: Are Museums Getting Too Expensive?

Even after cutting corners, a trip to the Field Museum cost $75 for one mom and one kid. Parents, please weigh in in the Comments section.

I couldn't resist the pretty picture of the box of chocolates promoting the Field Museum's "Chocolate" exhibit. But for one mom and one kid, the admission ($40, including the "Chocolate" special exhibit), CTA fares ($7), parking at the Cumberland CTA station ($5), lunch ($15), snacks ($6) and souvenir ($2) totalled a whopping $75.

For a family of four, double that, and if you drive down, figure in $19 or so for parking, plus gasoline.

We didn't bother to check our coats, for a charge of $2 for each item.

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The museum was nearly empty (on a Tuesday). That leaves one to wonder: in these economic times, are Chicago's downtown museums pricing themselves out of the reach of some families?

Parents, please scroll down to the "Comments" and give your opinion.

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