Chicago: Medieval Torture Museum Ticket & Ghost Hunting App

Walk through six millennia of punishment, and hunt for ghosts while you're there

You enter with an audio guide that explains the hundreds of torture and execution devices across the 6,000-square-foot exhibition, including wax scenes showing how they were used. The ghost hunting app is available to download and use simultaneously if you want that layer. All entry fees and taxes are included, and the museum is fully wheelchair accessible. Plan for at least two to three hours to move through the exhibition at a pace that lets the audio guide land.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Medieval Torture Museum and Ghost Hunt

• Enter Medieval Torture Museum
• Get audio guide from greeter
• Explore 6,000 sq. ft. exhibition
• View torture and execution devices
• See wax sculptures of execution scenes
• Use audio guide to learn history
• Download app for Ghost Hunting Experience
• Participate in Ghost Hunting activity

The experience

There's something that pulls you toward the dark corners of history, even when you know what you'll find there. The Medieval Torture Museum in Chicago sits at 6,000 square feet of exactly that: hundreds of devices, restraints, interrogation tools, and the wax figures of executioners and victims frozen mid-action. You get an audio guide the moment you walk in, so you're not wandering blind through the exhibition. The guide walks you through how each device worked, what it was used for, and the brutal logic behind it all. It's not comfortable, but it's honest.

What makes this different from just reading about medieval punishment is that you're standing in front of the actual tools (the iron chairs, the wheels, the cages), and the audio guide doesn't shy away from explaining what happened in them. The wax sculptures are detailed enough that you feel the weight of what you're looking at. And if you want to layer something else onto the experience, you can download the ghost hunting app while you're in the museum and participate in that at the same time. Some people skip it, some people get into it. Either way, the ticket covers both.

The museum is wheelchair accessible, and all areas are navigable. Children under 10 get in free as long as an adult is with them one-on-one, though the museum itself recommends the exhibition isn't the best fit for kids under 18 without a parent there to provide context. The audio guide does that work for you. It's not a casual stroll, but it's structured, so you're not left to piece together the history on your own.

What’s included

Your ticket includes entry to the Medieval Torture Museum's full 6,000-square-foot exhibition, an audio guide that explains the hundreds of torture, interrogation, restraint, and execution devices, wax sculptures depicting the historical scenes, and access to download the ghost hunting app to use during your visit. All fees and taxes are included in the price.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 11): free

Audio guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Medieval Torture Museum

Is this one for you?Right for anyone curious about how punishment and execution were carried out across history, who wants context rather than just images. The audio guide does that work. The exhibition is intense and detailed, so plan for a slower pace and at least two hours. That's what lets you actually absorb what you're seeing instead of rushing through.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 11): free.

Is the audio guide included in the ticket price?

Yes. The audio guide comes with your entry and walks you through the exhibition's hundreds of devices and their history.

Can I use the ghost hunting app at the same time as the audio guide?

Yes. You can download the ghost hunting app and participate in it while you're exploring the museum with the audio guide.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options nearby are also wheelchair accessible.

What if I'm traveling with a service animal?

Service animals are allowed in the museum.

Are there public transportation options nearby?

Yes. Public transportation options are available near the museum.

What are the holiday hours?

Thanksgiving: 11am–7pm. Christmas Eve: 11am–6pm. Christmas Day: 11am–7pm.