federal reserve chicago tours

Visit the Money Museum

Located downtown in Chicago’s financial district, the Chicago Fed’s Money Museum features a variety of exhibits focused on economics, money, and the roles of the Federal Reserve. Try your hand at detecting counterfeit notes, learn what a million dollars looks like, and view the rare currency on display. Reservations needed for groups of 15 people or more.

Reservations

Museum entry costs nothing, and it is open to walk-in visitors with no reservation needed. If your group is 15 people or more, please make a group reservation.

The Money Museum is open 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except on Federal Reserve Bank holidays .

The Money Museum is located on the first floor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago at 230 South LaSalle Street, on the corner of Jackson Boulevard and LaSalle.

There is no parking in front of the Money Museum. Please make alternate parking arrangements.

Accessibility

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is committed to making Money Museum exhibits and presentations accessible to everyone. Service animals are welcome at the Museum. The Museum is wheelchair accessible. (Wheelchairs are not provided.) The presentation video is captioned, and assistive listening devices may be requested by visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. If a group requires ASL interpretation for a presentation, please contact the Money Museum to place a request at least two weeks prior by emailing [email protected] .

Photo ID requirement

All adult visitors 18 years and older must show a valid, government-issued photo ID before entering the Money Museum.

Security Screening

All individuals visiting the Money Museum will be subject to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's screening process. The following items are not allowed in the Museum. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Firearms, stun guns, knives (including large pocket knives), utility/box cutters
• Pepper spray or mace
• Illegal drugs
• Other illegal or potentially dangerous or destructive items

At no time are firearms allowed into the Museum regardless of concealed carry status. Individuals may not store them and will be asked to leave the premises.

Food and Beverage Policy

We ask for your help in maintaining our facility. Please refrain from consuming food and beverages in the Money Museum. For your convenience, a drinking fountain is located outside the washrooms.

Group Visits

Student groups.

The Money Museum is most appropriate for middle and high school students. Museum staff members are not able to accommodate reservations for student groups under sixth grade. Student groups are required to have at least one adult chaperone for every ten students aged 17 or younger. Reservations are required for student groups with 15 or more attendees. If you do not have a reservation, your group may be turned away if the museum is at capacity.

Read about nearby attractions for additional stops on your field trip.

Teachers, here are resources for your middle and high school classrooms .

Reservations are required for groups of 15 or more people. A student group visit or other group visit lasts one hour and consists of a presentation by a staff member in the Money Museum auditorium for 30 minutes, followed by exploration on your own in the exhibition for 30 minutes. During the presentation, you will hear from a Chicago Fed staff member about the roles of the Federal Reserve, watch a video, and participate in a Q&A. If you prefer your group to explore the exhibits on your own rather than receive a presentation, please indicate this in the "Notes" field of your reservation request.

Student group reservations are offered Tuesday through Friday at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2 pm. Other group reservations are offered Tuesday through Friday at 3 pm.

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Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1413, USA. Tel. (312) 322-5322

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Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

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Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank

The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago serves as a visitor’s center for those guests interested in learning more about the role the Federal Reserve Bank system plays in shaping the United States’ economy. Home to an assortment of interactive displays and games pertaining to currency and economic policy, the Money Museum is perfect for school-age children. The Money Museum also occasionally sponsors or hosts temporary exhibits exploring similar economics-related topics.

Money Museum History and Background Information

America’s Federal Reserve system (often known to many as simply “the Fed”) was established in 1913 for the purpose of providing centralized control of the United States’ monetary policy. The hope was that this sort of central banking authority would lead to a more stable, less crisis-prone financial sector. To this day the Federal Reserve is a crucial financial actor that influences multiple components of the nation’s economy, including employment figures, price stability, and long-term interest rates.

The Federal Reserve system consists of 12 different Federal Reserve banks, one of which is located in Chicago. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is responsible for member banks found in its jurisdiction, which includes all of Iowa and Michigan, as well as a significant swath of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. The Money Museum has been established within the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as an engaging introduction—especially suitable for kids—to the important financial work being undertaken by the Fed on a daily basis.

What’s at the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank

One of the really neat things about the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is that entry here is completely free. Visitors to the Money Museum are encouraged to enjoy a self-guided tour through the space that typically takes guests approximately 45 minutes to complete. Exhibits here include rare coins, historical displays recounting the development of currency in America, interactive games that let you pretend you’re on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Board of Directors, and more. The Money Museum also periodically hosts a variety of temporary special exhibits.

If you’re interested in even more detail about the materials on display at the Money Museum, each day there is a single guided tour provided. This special presentation occurs each day at 1:00pm, and lasts roughly 30 minutes. It includes a brief lecture about the purpose of the United States’ Federal Reserve Bank system, a short video on the duties of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago branch, and a question-and-answer session with a Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago official.

All food and drink is strictly prohibited within the Money Museum, and there are no dining options on site. However, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is located squarely in the heart of Chicago’s iconic Loop neighborhood—meaning that you’ll find all manner of restaurants, cafés, and bars within the immediate vicinity of the Money Museum. With Union Station just three blocks to the west, and Michigan Avenue only five blocks to the east, you’ll be spoiled for options!

Tips for Visiting the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank

• The Money Museum is open every Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm.
• Given its location within the Federal Reserve of Chicago, all visitors to the Money Museum will be subjected to extensive security screening. You’ll want to make certain to check their website in advance of your visit for a full list of prohibited items.
• There is also an ID requirement for visitors to the Money Museum. Per their house regulations, all visitors to the Money Museum must display a government-issued photo identification card to enter the facility.
• While reservations are not needed to partake in the 1:00pm daily guided visit, it’s still a good idea to show up plenty early if you are interested in going on this special tour. Getting through security here can sometimes take quite a while, and if it is an especially busy day at the Museum, you don’t want to miss your one chance to go on that particular day’s only guided tour.

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Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Visitor Center

230 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60604

The Federal Reserve Bank Visitors Center features interactive displays that explain the Federal Reserve's functions, the U.S. economy, banking history, money and consumer interests.

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Explore the history of money by visiting a Fed museum

The Federal Reserve System plays an important role in managing complex financial and economic policies – and you can learn more about this in a fun way by visiting one of the Federal Reserve Bank money museums across the country.

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Money in Motion (Off-site) is a permanent exhibit at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia that tells the story of central banking in the United States. History comes alive throughout this exhibit, as Philadelphia was home to the very first U.S. bank.

Visitors can view currencies from the original 13 colonies, listen to a futuristic teller describe the payments system and see a 25-foot tower of shredded bank notes totaling $100 million.

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

After a three-year pandemic hiatus, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Money Museum (Off-site) reopened this spring. Located in downtown Chicago, the museum features a variety of exhibits focused on economics, money and the role of the Federal Reserve.

Visitors can try to detect counterfeit notes, learn what a million dollars looks like and view rare currencies on display. The museum also includes displays on the history of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank and the nationwide Federal Reserve System.

Check out the links below to learn more about additional Federal Reserve money museums across the System:

• Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Off-site)
• Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Off-site)
• Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Off-site)
• Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Off-site)
• Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (Off-site)
• Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (Off-site)
• Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Off-site)

Related Content

• Just-released Beige Book provides new views of U.S. regional, national economies
• Federal Reserve research: Latest highlights
• The evolution of Federal Reserve Financial Services (FRFS)

The Money Museum

Our exhibits focus on the history of coin and currency in America, the functions of the Federal Reserve and personal finance lessons. Our biggest attractions are the historic Harry S. Truman Coin Collection, the gold bar and our viewing area into cash processing and the vault.

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Current offerings.

• Self-guided tours for walk-in visitors and groups
• Virtual exhibits on our website
• Guided tours for educational groups

Learn more on our External Link website or contact us.

• Phone: 816-881-2683
• Email: [email protected]

Money Museum

This small museum in the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is fun for a quick browse. The best exhibits include a giant glass cube stuffed with one million $1 bills (they weigh 2000lb) and a counterfeit display differentiating real bills from fakes. Learn why we call $1000 a ‘grand'; learn more about Alexander Hamilton and his creation of a new nation's financial infrastructure; and snap a sweet photo clutching the million-dollar-stuffed briefcase.

You’ll also get a free bag of shredded currency to take home. The museum is a school-group favorite. At 1pm there’s a 45-minute guided tour. When you enter the building, look for the ‘Money Museum’ sign; you’ll have to show a photo ID and go through a metal detector.

230 S LaSalle St

Get In Touch

312-322-2400

https://www.chicagofed.org

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You Can See A $1 Million Cube, $1,000 Bill At Reopened Chicago Fed Bank Museum

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THE LOOP — The Federal Bank of Chicago’s Money Museum is reopening after a three-year pandemic hiatus with its signature attraction: its $1 million money cube.

The reopening is 10 a.m. Wednesday at 230 S. LaSalle St. The free museum is open 10-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and will offer tours for middle and high schoolers, according to a news release.

The museum aims to give visitors “a compelling look at the history and workings of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the broader Federal Reserve System,” according to a news release. Visitors can learn about the impacts of inflation and the functions of the reserve system and see its collection of money.

Other exhibits include a counterfeit money machine, a $1,000 bill known as the “Grand Watermelon” and a money pit filled with more than 140,000 coins worth more than $50,000, weighing the equivalent of about two grand pianos, according to the museum’s website.

The Chicago Fed is the reserve bank that covers Iowa and most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, according to the news release. The Federal Reserve System is made up of 12 regional reserve banks and a board of governors in Washington, D.C.

The reserve in Chicago has billions of dollars in cash in its vault, according to its website.

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Mack Liederman

Twitter @mack_liederman More by Mack Liederman