Museums You May Not Know in Chicago

Get your assless chaps ready. Chicago Leather Pride Week kicks off on May 2, organized by Edgewater’s own Leather Archives and Museum. But that’s just one of many unique (and edgy) museums in Chicago.

Leather Archives and Museum in Edgewater

The museum was founded in 1991 to preserve and educate on leather, kink, fetish, and BDSM culture. It's a fun space but it’s serious too, as exhibitions emphasize the effect of AIDS on the community. The Archives also host events like Hump Day Bondage (get it?) and Chicago Leather Pride Week’s opening reception.

The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum in the Loop

We Chicagoans love our movable bridges. They’re awe-inspiring! Inside a historic landmark bridgehouse​​ at Michigan and Wacker, this museum offers an up-close look, starting at the river level and spiraling up five stories. It opens for the season in mid-May.

International Museum of Surgical Science in Gold Coast

This surgery museum is about more than the gross-out factor. Operated by the International College of Surgeons and housed in a Gold Coast mansion, its collections explore the history of surgery and are organized by technical discipline. You’ll find ancient amputation saws, Napoleon's death mask, and a library full of rare medical texts and surgical-themed art.

Graveface Museum in Wicker Park

The Graveface Museum is home to the largest collection of John Wayne Gacy’s personal artwork and possessions. If that’s not your thing, fair. So fair. But if you are one of those serial-killer-obsessives, you’ll enjoy Graveface, which feels hidden in plain sight on Milwaukee Avenue. The space includes other horror oddities, as well as a record shop and arcade games.

The Insect Asylum in Avondale

The nonprofit Insect Asylum has over 5,000 taxidermied specimens — mostly insects, but there are some impressive mammals, like a giraffe. It’s an especially good spot to bring kids. The space also hosts regular events and includes a gift shop that’s pretty much a mini-museum itself with work from over 60 local artists.

Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation in South Loop

Located in the historic Chess Records building, Blues Heaven offers die-hard fans an authentic look at the oftentimes harsh blues business. The museum also advances the legacy of the genre through musician scholarships.

The Walt Disney Birthplace in Hermosa

Did you know Walt Disney was from Hermosa? He was born at home, in 1901, in the house at 1249 Tripp Avenue. (The family moved to Missouri four years later.) Today, that home is a small museum which offers tours on the last Saturday of every month for $25.

Klairmont Kollections in Belmont-Craigin

Car nerds will love Klairmont Kollections, which has over 300 classic vehicles on display in a massive warehouse. But just about any Chicagoan can appreciate its troves of vintage neon and kitschy gas station vibes — think a 1950s version of MSI’s Yesterday’s Main Street.

The National Public Housing Museum in Little Italy

Jane Addams’ Hull House is a classic field trip for Chicago kids, but the National Public Housing Museum is a brand-new spot that explores the broader history and legacy of public housing. It’s located in the last remaining building of the former Jane Addams Homes.