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The Blackstone- Chicago, IL
Chicago is a wonderland for those who love historic hotels. The only problem you’ll have is deciding which one to book. And really, what a problem to have. There is a place for every style, taste and budget, leaving plenty of options for your next trip. For those interested in a recently remodeled Beaux-Arts beauty, with fabulous fountain views and history for days, look no further than The Blackstone. Designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Marshall and Fox, the hotel was constructed between 1908 and 1910, on the site previously occupied by railroad executive Timothy Blackstone’s mansion. Costing $1.5 million, the project was funded by hoteliers John and Tracy…
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Driehaus Museum- Chicago, IL
For those interested in historic preservation, the Driehaus name is familiar one. The eponymous Foundation annually presents awards to those who strive to preserve the unique architectural and cultural identities of cities and towns across the United States. It honors those who prove adaptive reuse is economically feasible, saving us all from yet another soulless strip mall, or generic apartment complex; those who work to retain sense of place, and fight geographic homogenization. As they say, charity begins at home; in this case, it is a grand Gilded Age home, beautifully restored by Richard H. Driehaus, which now displays items from his private collection of decorative arts. Built in 1883…
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Glessner House- Chicago, IL
Glessner House is a polarizing property. Perhaps not so much these days, but its genius wasn’t much appreciated by many Prairie Avenue residents when it was built. At the time, most of the homes along the prestigious street were stately Second Empires, owned by Chicago’s wealthiest businessmen. Men such as Marshall Field, George Pullman, and Philip Armour, with magnificent mansions built by Burnham & Root. Men that did not at all care for Henry Hobson Richardson’s mighty fortress that loomed proud at the top of the street. John J. Glessner was born to a wealth family in Zanesville, Ohio, at a time when there were wealthy families in Zanesville, Ohio.…
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The Rookery- Chicago, IL
After reading Devil in the White City, I became obsessed with nineteenth century Chicago architecture. Not only was it a fascinating book, it introduced me to one of the most exciting architectural eras in the history of the United States. Central Chicago, following the Great Fire of 1871, was the perfect canvas for a handful of architects who would change the built world. One of the most famous architectural teams of the time was Burnham & Root, whose innovations paved the way for modern skyscrapers. Indeed, their 1888 eleven story office building located on South LaSalle, known as The Rookery, is the oldest extant high-rise in Chicago. In 1905, Frank…
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Unity Temple- Oak Park, IL
Frank Lloyd Wright designed a ridiculous number of now iconic buildings. Though mostly known for his houses, both fancy and utilitarian, he did also build hotels, skyscrapers, and churches. Sadly, many of these public buildings are gone. However, one of his first and most influential public structures still stands in Oak Park, Illinois- Unity Temple. So unique and bold was its design, it’s considered by many to be the first modern building in the world. After the original, and certainly more traditional, Oak Park Unitarian Universalist church was destroyed by lightning in 1905, fellow Unitarian and Oak Park resident Frank Lloyd Wright was retained to design a new structure for…
