Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go Quick Links:

Conference Venue

Parking

Self-Park:

  • Self-Parking is conveniently located for guests via Skybridge in Lot A of McCormick Place. Skybridge connectivity to the Marriott Marquis Chicago is located on the 3rd Floor of Lot A.
  • GPS Address: 2301 S. Prairie Ave
  • Rates: 0-16 hours: $27.00 | 16-24 hours: $40.00
  • Non-Overnight Guests: Self Parking pay stations are available in Lot A upon your departure. In
    and Out privileges are not included.
  • Overnight Guests: Self Parking will be added to your rooms bill at $40 a night. Your room key
    will act as your access pass to Lot-A. In and Out privileges included.

Valet:

  • Limited Valet Parking services are available on a first-come/first-serve basis.
  • GPS Address: 2121 S. Prairie Ave.
  • Rates: 0-1 Hours: $22 | 1-3 hours: $27 | 3-9 hours: $32 | 9-24 hours: $60

Restrooms

Restrooms are located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Marriott Marquis Chicago near meeting spaces. There is a family/unisex restroom on each floor – near Statistics on the 3rd Floor and near Grand Horizon Ballroom on the 4th Floor.

Transportation

Bus transportation will be provided for for the following ticketed activities:

  • South Loop Museum Hop (July 26)
  • Northwest Museum Hop (July 27)
  • Near North & Lincoln Park Museum Hop (July 28)
  • Closing Day Retreat (July 29)

Find details about bus departure and return times on the In-Person Events and Closing Day Retreat pages of our website. Details can also be found in the Sched app.

All buses will load and depart from the main entrance in the lobby of the hotel.

Walkable Eats

Hotel Options: Woven + Bound, Showroom Food Hall

Breakfast/Brunch: The Spoke & Bird

Lunch/Dinner/Drinks: The Burger Point, The Staley, Café Bionda (Italian), My Place South Loop (Chinese), La Cantina Grill (Mexican), Fatpour Tap Works, Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta, Il Culaccino (Italian)

Fine Dining: Chicago Oyster House

Free/Discounted Admission

The following museums, are offering free or discounted admission during the conference:

  • American Writers Museum LEARN MORE – 50% off regular general admission; admission is $8.00
  • The Flip, Chicago’s Pinball Museum LEARN MORE – 50% off regular admission
  • Griffin Museum of Science and Industry LEARN MORE – Free general admission and Anne Frank exhibition tickets (reserve in advance with promo code: AMM26)
  • Chicago Children’s Museum LEARN MORE – Free admission from 7/24-8/2

Accessibility Information

Conference Guide

We have set up a Conference Guide containing additional logistical details to assist individuals with navigation of conference programs and events. The guide also contains detailed information on accessibility initiatives in place for this year’s conference, such as ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices, and a quiet space. Access/download the version that works best for you with the links below:

Private Use/Nursing Mother’s Room

A private nursing space will be available in the Statistics room on the 3rd Floor, near breakout sessions.

Quiet Room

The Quiet Room is for anyone who needs to step back from the action without having to leave the conference. This is located in the China Town room on the 4th floor, near the Grand Horizon Ballroom and Registration.

In this space:

  • Please keep the space clean, and leave it as you found it when you arrived.
  • Quietly enjoy the available sensory tools and puzzles, or feel free to use your own.
  • If you do need to watch a video or listen to music, please use headphones. 

Find Help

Volunteers and staff will be wearing green “ASK ME” buttons on their lanyards. If you can’t find a session room or have general conference questions, please find a volunteer or staff member. They’ll help you or direct you to someone who can.

AMM Board members will be in attendance and are happy to assist with questions or help you find a member of the team. Board members can be spotted wearing an “Board Member” ribbon on their conference badges.

Virtual Access & Social Media

Virtual Platform/Mobile App

We are excited to launch a new AMM Conference app, custom-built by our friends at Pigeon-Tech to support your conference experience.

The desktop and mobile versions are now live and ready for you to start exploring the schedule, build your personal agenda, and access the following resources:

  • Zoom login details for live virtual programming and links to watch pre-recorded virtual sessions
  • Marketplace featuring 60+ organizations and service providers
  • Community Chats, where you can connect with peers around shared interests, exchange resources, contact AMM for assistance, or post general questions.
  • Attendee directory (Click your profile icon and “My Profile” to add information and a photo for your listing.)

Access the app in your web browser at amm.pigeon-tech.com or download the mobile version from your app store (Apple iOS / Google Play). Enter the email associated with your conference registration, follow the OTP code instructions, and viola!

Feel free to contact us with questions, or use the “Ask AMM” Community Chat in the app.

Social Media

Connect with us on social media and use this year’s hashtags with your posts: #WeHoldTheseTruths #AMM_2026 #MidwestMuseums. We also encourage you to follow and tag AMM in your posts.

Association of Midwest Museums

Session Presenters

Breakout Room Setup

All virtual and in-person breakout sessions are now listed in the searchable session directory at ammconference.org, the final program (PDF linked here) and in our conference app. Workshops are listed here.

Virtual Day: July 22

In-Person Event: July 26-29

Here are a few reminders about setup:

Live Virtual Sessions: Live virtual sessions will take place in Zoom Webinar. Only the panelists will be visible/audible. Attendees will engage with panelists in the chat or Q&A features of Zoom.

  • AMM will set up these webinars. You will receive a communication via Zoom closer to conference time with your direct link for accessing the session as a panelist. This direct link will allow you to join early. (Please arrive 15 min prior to the start time.) Attendees will access the session using a generic link to be made available in the virtual platform, Sched.
  • AMM will have a member of the conference leadership team on with you as tech support, and to start and end the session. We will make a brief introduction and offer a brief closing.
  • Panelists will have full control of Zoom features. You will share/advance your own slides and moderate attendee questions.
  • If you wish to have a poll set up for your webinar, please email the question and answer choices to AMM in the order that they should appear.

Pre-Recorded Virtual Sessions: Recordings are due by July 1 in mp4 format. Presenters may record their sessions on their own or schedule a time to record with AMM in Zoom. Contact AMM with questions. AMM is currently exploring options for attendee Q&A.

In-Person Sessions:

  • In-person presenters must bring their own laptop to present or any other presentation materials (handouts, etc.). If your laptop requires a special connector cable for HDMI connections, it would be wise to bring it with you. Our AV team will be onsite to assist as needed and will have a limited supply of backup cables.
  • Your session room will be noted in our virtual platform closer to conference time. In order to maximize capacity this year, the majority of our session rooms will be set theater style (no tables). We will confirm the setup of each room once those layouts are finalized. Presenters are permitted to rearrange furniture as long as they reset the room at the end of the session.

Posters: Poster presentations will take place during our afternoon reception on Monday, July 27, and located in Grand Horizon Ballroom EFG. The reception lasts from 4:00-5:30 PM, and presenters are only required to remain with their posters from 4:00-5:00 PM. AMM will provide easels and foam board for you to use as backer panels. Presenters will set up their posters during the session breaks at 1:00-1:30 PM or 2:30-3:00 PM on July 27. Volunteer(s) will be available to help you find your poster location.

Conversation Stations: Conversation stations will take place during our afternoon reception on Monday, July 27, and located in Grand Horizon Ballroom EFG. The reception lasts from 4:00-5:30 PM, and presenters are only required to remain at their tables from 4:00-5:00 PM. Presenters will set up their tables during the session breaks at 1:00-1:30 PM or 2:30-3:00 PM on July 27. Power is not provided for conversation stations. If you plan to use a laptop or tablet, make sure it is charged. Volunteer(s) will be available to help you find your conversation station location.

Pre-Conference Workshops: AMM has already been in touch with workshop presenters to confirm locations, times, and setup needs. If anything changes, though, let us know. AMM will also coordinate a brief call closer to conference time to discuss logistics with your workshop’s museum host. Presenters are required to bring their own laptops, handouts, and supplies.

Feel free to contact us with questions about setup..

Photography/Videography

Photography, Video, and Image Capture During the Conference 

We will have a photographer/videographer partner (Midwest Virtual Experiences), staff, and volunteer social media ambassadors helping us capture all of the activities taking place at this year’s conference.

By registering for and attending the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM) conference, you grant AMM and its state or regional association conference partner(s) and their authorized representatives permission to film, photograph, or otherwise record your participation in the event. You further agree that such images, photographs, and recordings may be used by AMM without your prior approval in any form and for any lawful purpose including, without limitation, promoting AMM. Such use will not entitle you to any credit or compensation. You release AMM, their officers, and employees from any liability connected with the use of any image, photograph, or recording taken during the conference.