The Glessner House is a National Historic Landmark, designed by noted American architect Henry Hobson Richardson and completed in 1887. Once the home to John Jacob and Frances Macbeth Glessner, it remains an internationally-known architectural treasure in Chicago. With its radical departure from traditional Victorian architecture, the structure served as an inspiration to the young Frank Lloyd Wright and helped redefine domestic architecture.The mission of the Glessner House Museum is to engage diverse audiences in exploring urban life and design through the preservation and interpretation of the architecture of H. H. Richardson and the historic home of the Glessners. We work to increase public awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the history and architecture of Chicago as represented in the lives and home of the Glessner family and the surrounding Prairie Avenue Historic District.
Interpretation, Collections, & Programming
Glessner House Museum offers guided tours, lectures, and other special programs to interpret the themes of art, architecture, and social history which are inherent in Glessner House, the museum's collections, and the stories of its residents and neighbors during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
As one of the country's premier sites for the study and enjoyment of decorative arts, Glessner House Museum offers both the casual visitor and the serious connoisseur a unique opportunity to partake in the pleasures of the Aesthetic and English Arts and Crafts movements. The museum's conservation of the Glessners' remarkable collection of objects provides today's collector with a living workshop from which to take guidance.Glessner House Museum helps illuminate the present by bringing the past to life with a wealth of subjects to study, present, dramatize, and celebrate—from the glamour of the Gilded Age, to the vast cultural changes surrounding World War I, to the excitement of the Jazz Age and Prohibition. Lectures, programs, and events attract diverse audiences for education and entertainment.
Join Us on a Historic Journey
In June 2011, we will be launching an 18-month celebration for the 125th Anniversary of the Glessner House. This blog will be a way for us to share this adventure with the world. We have a busy schedule planned, including a variety of programs and events, several interior restoration projects, new permanent and temporary exhibits, and fundraising activities. This will be the place where we can highlight our activities, announce upcoming events, and entice you to visit, participate, and enjoy.And be sure to visit our website often for more information on touring the museum, renting space for events, and other upcoming programs. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.