Glessner HouseCHICAGO, ILLINOIS
When cruising the Great Lakes, the Glessner House is an amazing place to discover when cruising Chicago, Illinois. Take a trip back in time when you visit the legendary Glessner House in Chicago. A recipient of multiple awards, including the National Register of Historic Places, Honorary Chicago Landmark and more. John Glessner and his family lived in the house for fifty years. It was designed in the Gilded Age and represents the Glessner’s desire for a simply, cozy home as designed by commissioned architect Henry Hobson Richardson. |
The structure was a brilliant reflection of the attached urban townhouse mansion of the Gilded Age. The home is over 17,000 square feet with a foundation constructed of Illinois dolomite and walls of Braggville pink granite. The interior is very unusual yet very symmetrical with fireplaces centered in almost every room with doors on each side. The rooms are connected to each other with formal and informal areas defined. The interior is beautifully done with furnishings from the era. More than half of the home was used for service. The home has 13 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms and more than half of those were used for servants.
The Glessner’s staff was split evenly of men and women. Each staff member would enter the house from a separate entrance of which can be seen alongside the house on 18th Street. The men and women servants quarters were set up so they could have no connection between each other as this was considered proper for the times. Many of the female servants were made up of immigrants from Ireland, Scandinavia, and Canada. The male staff were primarily American or English.
The home was originally wired for electricity, however they used gas to light the home the first five or six years because at that time, Chicago had no infrastructure to provide electricity to the neighborhood. By 1893, the entire house was on electric. On Dec 1, 1924, the Glessners decided to gift the home to the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The Chicago Depression-era ushered in high maintenance costs which led to the donation of the home.
Learn more about Great Lakes Tours and Attractions and cruising Chicago with Great Lakes Cruises.
The Glessner’s staff was split evenly of men and women. Each staff member would enter the house from a separate entrance of which can be seen alongside the house on 18th Street. The men and women servants quarters were set up so they could have no connection between each other as this was considered proper for the times. Many of the female servants were made up of immigrants from Ireland, Scandinavia, and Canada. The male staff were primarily American or English.
The home was originally wired for electricity, however they used gas to light the home the first five or six years because at that time, Chicago had no infrastructure to provide electricity to the neighborhood. By 1893, the entire house was on electric. On Dec 1, 1924, the Glessners decided to gift the home to the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The Chicago Depression-era ushered in high maintenance costs which led to the donation of the home.
Learn more about Great Lakes Tours and Attractions and cruising Chicago with Great Lakes Cruises.
- TOUR TIMES -
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday | 11:30am, 1:00pm, and 2:30pm
Tours by advance ticket only. Ticket sales end at midnight the day before the tour.
- Please check website for specific information and ticket pricing -
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday | 11:30am, 1:00pm, and 2:30pm
Tours by advance ticket only. Ticket sales end at midnight the day before the tour.
- Please check website for specific information and ticket pricing -
Learn more about the Glessner House by visiting their website.
Address: 1800 S. Praire Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: 312.326.1480
Address: 1800 S. Praire Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: 312.326.1480
Updated 12/8/20-lls