In Another Neighborhood

For one weekend at this time every year the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) sponsors Open House Chicago – an opportunity to see inside buildings all over Chicago that are usually not open to the public. We’ve picked a few buildings in or close to our neighborhood each of the last two years and have really enjoyed the chance to peek in. Of course this year in the time of Corona changes had to be made. This year they are offering virtual programming and self directed tours for two weekends and the week in between. We downloaded the app and did a few of the walking tours this week.

On Monday we headed to Wicker Park to go on the Beer Baron Row Tour. Our first stop was the Weinhardt Mansion. This Queen Anne was built in 1888. The gingerbread trim was amazing and it even had a Little Free Library with its own gingerbread trim.

Another Queen Anne built in 1877 for Herman Plautz who owned the Northwest Brewery Company was decorated for Halloween like many of the houses in the neighborhood.

The next day we did a leg of the Tales of the Gold Coast Trail. One of the highlights was the Charnley-Persky House designed by Adler and Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright who still worked there in 1891.

Another interesting house was the Holabird and Root 1928 -9 Art Deco house. The CAC app states that “it is a rare example of a single family Deco home in Chicago”.

We took Wednesday off and on Thursday we headed out to see the Historic Mansions of Prairie Avenue. These included the Clarke House oldest house in Chicago and the Glessner House the only H.H. Richardson house left in Chicago. I didn’t take any photos on this tour but while we were there we found a Prairie Avenue Walking Tour Guide pamphlet with lots more of interest so I think we’ll go back soon.

No tours today since it was raining but while I was writing this I got an email saying that Open House Chicago has been extended for another week so I’m sure we’ll do at least one more next week since it’s been fun – in this time of Corona it is so great to have somewhere to go!