Reviews
First, you don't need to buy a ticket to get in the museum, but a donation is suggested. $8 per adult. The Chinese American Museum is full of very interesting stories and the cultural background for what was and still is life for Chinese Americans. As far as I can tell the expositions change throughout the year, but few remain constant, mostly those narrating the store being Chinatown and its founders. Personally speaking, my favorite section of the museum was the second floor, which explores the life and hardships of Chinese Americans who served in WWII. Their hardships during the war are pretty unique, and their struggles to get recognized for their service post WWII are mesmerizing and inspiring. Aside from that, you will also find a wide variety of Chinese culture expositions, which is always nice to have and learn about, especially if you're not very familiar with their traditions and lifestyle. Definitely worth a visit!
Located in the heart of Chicago’s Chinatown; this was such a fantastic free museum accepting optional recommended donations upon entry. We enjoyed exploring and learning about the journey, culture and history of the Chinese. We watched an amazing video as well which was very informative and interesting. Street parking was available. Don’t miss the amazing mural on the side of the building.
Very informative. Stephen and May were kind enough to give us a little tour and explain everything. It's a small place but has a lot to offer. Saw a small movie, again, very informative about the lives of Chinese Americans. I learned how Chinatowns came to be and how much racism Chinese Americans had to go through throughout history.Visited onWeekendWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNoPrice for adult entryFree
I went to Chinese American Museum of Chicago last weekend. Starting from modern Chinese American culture such as Chinese restaurants and their lives, and to the late 1700s, the museum covered a broad range of Chinese American history. It also showed the history and culture of Chinese Americans in the Midwest, such as their immigration journeys to their contributions to society. I enjoyed artworks by Philip Chen the most picture. Overall, the museum was well curated, and the staffs were friendly. Recommending to those who are interested in the Chinese American heritage.
I was so excited to bring my niece to the museum as she was visiting from LA. Sadly, when we got there we found it’s closed on Thursday’s my fault for not checking beforehand. This looks like an excellent place to come and explore after lunch on a weekday! Just not on Thursday’s! We peeked inside and it looked really nice with a mini gift shop too! The colorful cultural mural painted on the outside of the building was beautiful! You can’t miss the regally perched bronze lions at the entrance! I’ll have to return and do a legitimate review at a later date!
Seeing the stories of Chinese immigrants, Chinese Americans, and their lives as they adjusted to a wholly new cultural context was a touching and visceral experience for me. I found the "true stories" board particularly interesting, while the military and dining exhibits were also full of detailed and surprising stories. Loved the curation of artifacts. Highly recommend!
The Chinese American Museum of Chicago offers many exhibits or pieces that seem to be innately linked to the ideas of growing up in a multiculturel area. The joint depiction of items from the mainland as well as different circumstances and their respective adaptations have been highlighted throughout the museum with an emphasis on how people maintained their Chinese heritage in a land that often suffers from xenophobia. Having never been to such an exhibit before I was particularly intrigued at seeing how the melange of cultures is represented in contemporary art . The preservation of different menus from Chinese owned restaurants stood out to me as something first extremely Americanised in an attempt to fit in and its transition to something more representative of the ChineseAmerican and their joint cultures. I would highly recommend to someone with an interest in history and the anecdotal experiences of those facing hardship. The mural outside as attached the museum is also very pretty and worth going to see.
A thoughtful and well designed museum, the guide was knowledgeable and shared his experiences immigrating to America while walking us through displays and the voices video. The mural is beautiful! I highly recommend this museum as a must when visiting Chicago and Chinatown.Visited onWeekendWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNot surePrice for adult entry$6–10
Beautiful location. I think what got me was the friendliness of the staff, that very first interaction made for a fantastic visit. Very clean place, not crowded free entry, just gave a donation. I was told every year they change up the museum, so I will for sure go back next year. However, I may go back again this year with my husband. Overall, it was a great visit! Stephen and Mei, thank you for a great visit!
What a treasure! This small museum is full of history and the precious artifacts and memories from Chinatown and the Chinese community of Chicago. A real highlight is the video with an interactive theatre, where objects are highlighted while stories are being told by real people from the community. It’s very innovative, not like anything I’ve seen, especially at a small museum, and it really made the stories come to life. There is something just so special about seeing the real objects from the generations of people who built our city, and hearing their stories, that puts you in touch with history. Great museum.
