The Glessner House Museum was designed in 1887 by Boston architect H. H. Richardson and is considered a masterpiece of 19th century residential design. It is furnished with an important collection of English and American arts and crafts furnishings assembled by the Glessners over a period of more than 50 years.
About the Architecture
In 1885, John and Frances Glessner purchased a spacious corner lot on Prairie Avenue, home to Marshall Field, George Pullman and other leading Chicago businessmen. The home was completed in 1887 by architect H.H. Richardson, who was hired by the Glessners to adapt the couples gracious living into the home which helped redefine American domestic architecture.
The fortress-like rusticated granite exterior concealed a large central courtyard that bathed the rooms in natural light and provided a level of privacy rarely achieved in urban residences.
An Extraordinary Collection of Furnishings & Decorative Arts
The interior, with its warm oak paneling, grand staircase and stately fireplaces, provided an ideal setting for the Glessner's extraordinary collection of furnishings and decorative arts.
Intricately detailed furniture by Isaac Scott stands among later pieces by A. H. Davenport, Charles Coolidge and the Herter Brothers.
Textiles, carpets and wallpapers designed by Morris and Company serve as a backdrop for their collection of decorative objects by De Morgan, Minto, Galle, and Tiffany.
An Architectural Treasure Becomes a Museum
After John Glessner's death in 1936, the house was deed to the Armour Institute of Technology, which leased and later sold it to a printing foundation. Threatened with demolition in 1966, the building was purchased by a group of architects who realized its architectural significance. Today, visitors take delight in the powerful architecture and embrace the home's warmth and eminent livability.
