Step Inside the New Chicago Board of Trade Museum: A Free Downtown History Experience

Interior of Board of Trade

Chicago’s iconic Board of Trade Building—the magnificent 1930 Art Deco skyscraper capped by Ceres—just got a major upgrade: a free, public museum celebrating the city’s storied legacy of trading, architecture, and resilience. Located in the building's north lobby at 141 W Jackson Blvd, the museum officially opened this week.

When you enter this immersive museum you will see large-scale visuals, video installations, and rare artifacts like trading jackets and teletype machines along with interactive exhibits and oral histories from former traders.

The Chicago Board of Trade museum focuses on the building's rich history. Opened in 1885 in the current location the original building was the tallest building in Chicago at that time. In 1925, the Chicago Board of Trade commissioned architects Holabird & Root to design the current building. The new building officially opened its doors on June 9, 1930, and has been an iconic staple of the Chicago skyline ever since.

Be sure to step outside and go down a block and look up at the building’s central structure a 6,500 pound, 31 ft tall aluminum statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. Created by sculptor John H. Storrs, that statue holds a sheaf of wheat in her left hand and a bag of corn in her right – a nod to the exchange's heritage as a commodities market.

No reservations needed to visit the museum.

Open Monday-Friday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Chicago Board of Trade

141 W. Jackson Blvd.

Chicago, IL 60604