Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

The Museum of Contemporary Art is an institution for contemporary art in Near North Side, Chicago, housed in a freestanding structure with pale limestone facades and expansive glass surfaces. The interior spaces span several floors and offer a route through galleries with rotating exhibitions, plus a rooftop terrace and a sculpture courtyard.

The institution began in 1967 on East Ontario Street as an initiative for emerging artistic currents and relocated in 1996 to the Josef Paul Kleihues-designed building on the Michigan Avenue waterfront. This move marked the shift from a compact exhibition space to a venue with an expanded collection and international reach.

The building sits at the southern edge of the Streeterville neighborhood in close proximity to residential towers and parks, with visitors often pausing on the terrace that overlooks the lake. The interior courtyard provides space for sculpture and serves as a gathering spot, while the galleries offer a quiet contrast to the busy Michigan Avenue nearby.

Admission is free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays, while other visitors can enter on all open days. The galleries open from Tuesday to Sunday at 10 in the morning, with extended hours until 9 in the evening on Tuesdays.

The rooftop terrace offers sweeping views across the water and downtown skyline without requiring entry to the exhibition galleries. Many visitors use this area as a resting point during a walk through the city.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1967

Architects: Josef Paul Kleihues

Official opening: 1967

Elevation above the sea: 180 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Phone: +13122802660

Website: https://mcachicago.org

GPS coordinates: 41.89721,-87.62099

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25