United States
Illinois (IL)
Chicago
Chicago Attractions
Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
See all things to do

Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

See all things to do
See all things to do
Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
4.5
#35 of 794 things to do in Chicago
Speciality Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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
Write a review
About
Where can you take your picture with a million bucks? Try your hand at managing inflation? These are just some of the interactive activities available at the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. We're open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except Bank holidays, when we are closed; please see our website for other closure announcements). Admission is always free. The best part: you'll walk away with about $350+ in cash--shredded, of course.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view

Top ways to experience Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown / The Loop
Often visitors' first stop in Chicago, The Loop is a good starting point to sample the city's energy and flavor. This central business district boasts Michelin-rated restaurants, upscale hotels, premier shopping, and enough arresting architecture to keep your camera busy for hours. You won’t find too many photo galleries of downtown Chicago without a shot of Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. A stunning skyline coupled with cultural attractions like the Art Institute of Chicago present a Downtown where work and play peacefully coexist.
How to get there
  • Quincy • 2 min walk
  • LaSalle/Van Buren • 2 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,084 within 5 kms
The Berghoff Restaurant
1,614
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • German • Bar • Vegetarian Friendly
Meli Cafe
435
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • American • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
Giordano's
1,329
0.2 km$$ - $$$ • Italian • American • Pizza
The Village
1,575
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Italian • Tuscan • Vegetarian Friendly
Native Foods
291
0.1 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • American • Fast food
Elephant & Castle
766
0.2 km$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • British
The Grillroom Chophouse & Wine Bar
367
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • American • Steakhouse • Gluten Free Options
Exchequer Restaurant & Pub
713
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • Italian • American • Pizza
Gino's East South Loop
378
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Italian • American • Bar
Cafecito
320
0.6 km$ • Quick Bites • Latin • Cafe
See all
Attractions
580 within 10 kms
Chicago Board of Trade Building
121
55 mArchitectural Buildings
The Rookery Building
411
0.1 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower
17,861
0.3 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Chicago Fire Departament - Bomberos de Chicago
13
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Calder’s Flamingo
268
0.3 kmMonuments & Statues
Lake Shore Drive
3
0.2 kmScenic Drives
The Art Institute of Chicago
24,540
0.7 kmArt Museums
Chicago Riverwalk
3,096
0.5 kmHistoric Walking Areas
Marquette Building
57
0.3 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Monadnock Building
23
0.3 kmArchitectural Buildings
See all
See what travellers are saying
  • Dave F
    Shotton, United Kingdom188 contributions
    Great insight to how US $ are governed
    Called on off chance. It was free and took about an hour. Really informative about how it works and and what role it plays in the US economy. Big difference in the way it is run to the Bank Of England. Nice to see a case with $1 million in it
    Visited June 2023
    Written 10 June 2023
  • Linda K
    12 contributions
    Free exhibit well worth the time
    This wasn't on our list, but as we walked by we decided to go in. The Money Museum was fascinating. Our 10 year old grandson loved the hands on exhibits and getting his bag of shredded money! And we enjoyed the history of US money and an explanation of military money. And all this is free!
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 July 2023
  • Betty
    2,780 contributions
    Fun and educational
    This is a nice little museum and very educational. Adults need to show a picture ID and the guards are real nice. It is located inside the Federal Reserve Building. We spent about 45 minutes looking at the displays and taking pictures of the money. There are 3 displays of 1 million dollars and a colorful coin display on the floor. There are some interactive exhibits and they give you a bag of shredded money as souvenir.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 August 2023
  • JaninePor
    Boston, Massachusetts64 contributions
    Worth a visit!
    Loved it! The money museum is not advertised. You need to enter the Federal Reserve building. The guard in charge of the museum was very helpful and informative and nice. In the museum itself there is much to learn and see. A million dollars in ones, twenties and hundreds. There are several military displays that show the money used during war time. You need to go if you have an interest in money. As a side note the washrooms in the museum are clean.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 September 2023
  • hmhmurphy
    63 contributions
    Small, but lots of interactive exhibits.
    Very small museum. Had a lot of interactive stuff that just didn’t interest me, but would be great for a person interested in how the economy works. I loved seeing the old currency. And the cube of 1 million dollar bills was pretty cool. Only took me twenty minutes. But it’s free, so it was worth it!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 18 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
521 reviews
Excellent
334
Very good
148
Average
30
Poor
5
Terrible
4
hmhmurphy
Tulsa, Oklahoma63 contributions
Small, but lots of interactive exhibits.
Oct 2023 • Solo
Very small museum. Had a lot of interactive stuff that just didn’t interest me, but would be great for a person interested in how the economy works. I loved seeing the old currency. And the cube of 1 million dollar bills was pretty cool. Only took me twenty minutes. But it’s free, so it was worth it!
Written 18 October 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.
JaninePor
Boston, MA64 contributions
Worth a visit!
Aug 2023 • Couples
Loved it! The money museum is not advertised. You need to enter the Federal Reserve building. The guard in charge of the museum was very helpful and informative and nice. In the museum itself there is much to learn and see. A million dollars in ones, twenties and hundreds. There are several military displays that show the money used during war time. You need to go if you have an interest in money. As a side note the washrooms in the museum are clean.
Written 4 September 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.
Betty
2,780 contributions
Fun and educational
Aug 2023 • Family
This is a nice little museum and very educational. Adults need to show a picture ID and the guards are real nice. It is located inside the Federal Reserve Building. We spent about 45 minutes looking at the displays and taking pictures of the money. There are 3 displays of 1 million dollars and a colorful coin display on the floor. There are some interactive exhibits and they give you a bag of shredded money as souvenir.
Written 25 August 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.
hrobinson1114
Nashville, TN2,780 contributions
Fun concept & displays, too close & too small
Aug 2023 • Solo
I’m giving it five stars because it is interesting and kinda unusual!

There are several educational displays teaching about the evolution of money, displaying all the different types/coins/bills from the beginning of bartering until today. You also learn about the federal reserve, inflation.

There are super neat displays that show various iterations of a million dollars. There is a huge cube of one dollar bills (which weighs over 2000 pounds). There is a stack of twenties. There is a case of Benjamin’s.

You learn about Alexander Hamilton, the centralization of currency, how money is minted, and how to spot counterfeit money.

There are a lot of interactive displays that would be very cool! Except the video/talking displays are so close together that if you’re playing one and someone else is playing the next one, it makes it a cacophony of misery.

This spot is also pretty small and can get quite crowded. You do have to show an ID upon entry, walk through a medical detector, and send all the items on your person through an X-ray machine.

Free and overall fun, but I found it tough to enjoy to the fullest because of the small size and closely spaced displays.
Written 2 August 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.
Linda K
12 contributions
Free exhibit well worth the time
Jul 2023 • Family
This wasn't on our list, but as we walked by we decided to go in. The Money Museum was fascinating. Our 10 year old grandson loved the hands on exhibits and getting his bag of shredded money! And we enjoyed the history of US money and an explanation of military money. And all this is free!
Written 26 July 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.
Dave F
Shotton, UK188 contributions
Great insight to how US $ are governed
Jun 2023
Called on off chance. It was free and took about an hour. Really informative about how it works and and what role it plays in the US economy. Big difference in the way it is run to the Bank Of England. Nice to see a case with $1 million in it
Written 10 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.
Sally G
Northamptonshire, UK13 contributions
Free & you get $!
May 2023 • Couples
Probably only need about 30 mins. Get to touch $1 million & take some cash 💰! Just across street from Rookery. Security guard v entertaining. Thank you
Written 19 May 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.
Bobbbbbbbbbb
New York City, NY81 contributions
Really great free exhibition
May 2023 • Solo
Great little exhibit - don’t be daunted about the lack of signage outside, just go in through the revolving door and ask at reception

Really good displays and some fun interactive things - especially good that it’s all free!
Written 18 May 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.
bobx77
Florida2,353 contributions
Closed
Aug 2022
I checked their website and it says they are closed.
I was totally disappointed, because when I first heard of this museum I was eager to go there.

Hopefully it will reopen soon!!
Written 3 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.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia17,646 contributions
Do you know Covid is over and almost all attractions are open ?
Apr 2022
For some reason they still did not open this museum, despite the Covid's over.
It was another disappointment just minutes after the first one at Rookery building (read that review).
So, if planning to visit double check by phone in order not to waste your time like us.
Written 22 May 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.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 437
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Restaurants near Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: View all restaurants near Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on Tripadvisor