You are here
Free Days at NHMU
The Museum is pleased to offer four Free Days each year in appreciation for the important Zoo, Arts and Parks funding we receive from Salt Lake County.
Free Days 2015
Getting Tickets for Museum Free Days
- Advance reservations for Free Day will be made available online at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time on the Tuesday prior to each scheduled Free Day.
- A limited number of tickets will be set aside for visitors who arrive on Free Day without a ticket. We encourage you to come to the Museum on Free Day even if you don't have an advance reservation. If tickets are still available, you will be admitted. You may be asked to wait until later in the day and, unfortunately, you may be turned away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Free Day really free?
Yes, on Museum Free Day there is no paid admission for entry into the Museum. However, tickets are still required!
How do I make a Museum Free Day reservation?
Advance reservations are recommended for Museum Free Day visitors! All tickets are for a specific half-hour arrival time during the day. There is a limit of six free tickets per reservation. Reservations that exceed the six-ticket limit will be canceled.
Museum Free Days are very popular and, for many time slots, the entire reservation capacity will be used up quickly. The total number of tickets for each times slot and for the full day are limited to ensure a safe and pleasant visit for everyone. A number of tickets are held for visitors who arrive without reservations, but reservations are encouraged if you don't want to run the risk of being turned away!
For what time of day do I make my reservation?
Free Day tickets will be offered for visits starting at 10:00 a.m. and every half hour after that through 3:30 p.m. The last admission to the Museum's galleries will be at 4:30 p.m. The galleries close at 5:00 p.m., and visitors must leave the Museum at that time. The total quantity of tickets will be limited to ensure a safe and pleasant visit for all attendees.
How can I get tickets for Free Day?
- Starting when Free Day tickets are available (the Tuesday prior to each scheduled Free Day), make reservations on the website.
- Select the Free Day that you are planning to attend from the calendar display.
- Select the time that you wish to attend. Please note: If you are not able to make a reservation at the time you wish to attend, that means your desired time slot is unavailable.
- Use the drop-down box to indicate the number of reservations you wish to make. Please note: Reservations are limited to six tickets per transaction
- Click the “Add to Cart” button. Review your order to assure accuracy.
- Click the “Proceed to Checkout” link.
- Click the Establish/Manage Account button. Please note: The online reservation system does not allow checkout without creating account, however no credit card information is required for free transactions.
- If you are a returning Museum patron, you can look yourself up by providing your first and last name, and then the password that you have previously established.
- If you are new to our ticketing system, you can create an account for yourself by clicking on the “Create New Guest” button.
- Once your account information appears on the checkout screen, you can click the “Finalize Sale” button. You DO NOT need to enter a credit card number for free transactions.
- You will receive an email confirmation of your reservation.
Can I make Free Day reservations by phone or via email?
Phone reservations are not available. We are not able to grant reservations through email, either. The only way to make advance reservations for Free Days is via the "Buy Ticket" link on our website starting at 10:00 a.m. MT on the Tuesday prior to each scheduled Free Day.
Can I bring school classrooms and other groups to Museum Free Day?
Due to the exceptional demand for Museum Free Day tickets, we are not able to take group reservations or school fieldtrips on these days. Organized groups including school classes, youth groups, scout troops and aftercare programs arriving without reservations will be turned away. Please select an alternate date for these visits. You may click through to the Group Reservations and School Field Trips web pages for more information.
Where do I park for Museum Free Days?
Parking spaces at the Rio Tinto Center fill very quickly on Museum Free Days, however overflow parking will be available. When you arrive at the Museum, please look for directional signage and parking attendants to guide you to available parking.
What if I make a reservation and am then unable to attend?
If you do not arrive by the end of your reserved half-hour time slot (for example, prior to 2:30 for a 2:00 reservation) your tickets will be released and may be issued to a visitor who arrived without a reservation. If you would like to notify the Museum in advance, please email us.
For additional questions, email the Museum.
