One of the most famous ways to experience the city is here: Open House Chicago.
The annual Open House Chicago Weekend, hosted by the Chicago Architecture Center, takes place October 19-20 and offers people the rare chance to take behind-the-scenes tours of Chicago’s iconic landmarks for free. The program includes more than 170 sites across more than 20 neighborhoods, including schools, churches, speakeasies, theaters and other architecturally notable buildings throughout the city’s history.
In addition to free access to these buildings, attendees can take self-guided historical tours and participate in a variety of programs scheduled this weekend.
But with over 100 sites to see, it can be difficult to choose which ones to visit.
Here’s a look at 13 Open House Chicago sites to consider, along with descriptions from the Chicago Architecture Center.
Avalon Regal Theater – 1645 E. 79th St., Chatham/South Shore
This 2,500-seat auditorium opened in 1927 as the Avalon Theater. It was renamed in 1987 as a tribute to the original Regal Theater in Bronzeville, which was demolished in 1973. John Eberson’s atmospheric Moorish Revival style design was similar to that of the Paradise Theater on Chicago’s West Side, which was demolished in the 1950s. In addition to hosting an election night celebration to celebrate Barack Obama’s presidential victory in 2008, the theater has been vacant and virtually unused since 2003. A mural outside the building includes portraits of many musicians from famous jazz and blues artists associated with the Regal Theater. , including Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1992.
Central Park Theater – 3535 W. Roosevelt Rd., Garfield Park/North Lawndale
The Central Park Theater has been a focal point of North Lawndale arts and culture since its opening in 1917. Central Park was one of the first theaters in the country to have an air conditioning system. With nearly 1,800 seats, it remained a profitable business for decades. The historic exterior and interior have been well preserved and the owner is working with the Central Park Theater Restoration Committee to restore and reopen the theater as an events and programming space for the North Lawndale community.
Studio Hector Duarte – 1900 W. Cullerton, Petit Village/Pislen
Three sides of muralist Héctor Duarte’s home and studio are covered with his “Gulliver in Wonderland” mural, a frequent stop on public art tours in Pilsen. It features a giant, sprawling Mexican immigrant as Gulliver, struggling to free himself from the barbed wire that binds him. Duarte’s murals, mosaics, and studio work address themes of identity, immigration, and freedom.
Duarte has created more than 50 murals in the Chicago area. His paintings and prints have been exhibited at the National Museum of Mexican Art (which is just down the block), the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the State of Illinois Gallery, the Chicago Historical Society and at the Casa Estudio Museo Diego Rivera in Mexico. City.
Ingersoll-Blackwelder House – 10910 S. Prospect Ave., Beverly/Morgan Park
One of the oldest homes in the Beverly Hills/Morgan Park community, located in the Ridge Historic District. The original (rear) portion of the house dates from 1874 and was built for real estate magnate John Ingersoll. A Queen Anne-style addition was added the following decade for new owner Isaac Blackwelder, president of the then-independent village of Morgan Park. His wife, Gertrude Blackwelder, was the first woman to vote in Cook County.
Koal Distillery – 4241 N. Ravenswood Ave., Lincoln Square/Ravenswood
The husband and wife team of Dr. Robert Birnecker and Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart founded KOVAL in 2008, the first distillery to open within Chicago city limits since the mid-19th century. KOVAL aims to bring increased creativity to the world of spirits, using unique, locally sourced grains and a “heart cut” distillation approach. This has grown into a range of organic and kosher whiskeys, gins and specialty spirits that have won over 100 international awards.
Blackstone Branch Library – 4904 S. Lake Park Ave., Hyde Park/Woodlawn
Opened in 1906, the library is inspired by the Erechtheion temple of the Athenian Acropolis. It was given as a gift to the people of Chicago by Isabel Blackstone in memory of her late husband, Timothy Beach Blackstone, president of the Chicago and Alton Railroad.
Astor Club – 1340 N. Astor St., 24 E. Goethe St., near North Side
The Astor Club opened in 2023 as a private dinner club capitalizing on the fascinating history of its location. Tucked away in the basement of Bertrand Goldberg’s modernist Astor Tower apartments, this space was originally home to Maxim’s, an opulent restaurant attracting the likes of The Beatles, Muhammad Ali, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra during their swings at Chicago. It was even home to the city’s first nightclub before closing its doors in 1982, only opening for periodic special events since then.
Parc Château Condominiums – 2442 W. Greenleaf Avenue, Apt. 2 Rogers Park/West Ridge
Architect James Denson designed this sprawling 1925 double-courtyard brick apartment building to resemble a castle, with battlements, turrets and towers. Live swans once adorned a moat-like pond. Although this feature has disappeared, the bridges and some retaining walls remain. Inside the resort is one of Chicago’s best-kept secrets: an extravagant indoor pool that reflects the opulence of the Jazz Age.
Ramova Theater – 3520 S. Halsted Street, Bridgeport
Bridgeport’s Ramova Theater reopened in 2023 as a music venue, craft brewery, beer garden and grill. The project is the culmination of years of rehabilitation efforts as well as multimillion-dollar public and private investments in the community. Since its opening in 1929, Ramova served as the neighborhood’s main cinema until its closure in 1985.
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum – 800 S. Halsted St., near West Side
A dynamic resource for people interested in the history of social reform, the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum offers exhibitions and programs aimed at inspiring action. The museum serves to educate a wide range of visitors, including young learners, the UIC community, and civic-minded individuals in Chicago and beyond.
The museum is located in two of the original settlement house buildings: Hull House, a National Historic Landmark, and the Residents’ Dining Room, a magnificent arts and crafts building that hosted some of the thinkers , the world’s most important artists and activists. .
The Cliff Dwellers Club – 200 S. Michigan Ave., Downtown
This private club was founded in 1907 as the Attic Club and renamed Cliff Dwellers in 1909. It moved to the 22nd floor of 200 South Michigan in 1996, offering some of the best views in the Loop, after previously inhabiting the top floor from the neighboring Orchestra. Hall for decades. It remains a private club and nonprofit organization for men and women who support the fine and performing arts. The club is a haven for artists, authors, musicians, painters, architects and sculptors. Notable members included Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, Lorado Taft and Hamlin Garland.
Wild Mile – 905 W. Eastman St., Lincoln Park
The Wild Mile is the first floating eco-park of its type and scale in the world. Comprised of floating docks winding through lush gardens of native wetland species, it is accessible from street level and functions as a public park for city dwellers to enjoy.
Riviera Theater – 4746 N. Racine Ave., Uptown
The Riviera Theater was the largest and most ornate of Uptown’s movie theaters until the Uptown Theater opened nearly a decade later. Opened in 1918 at a cost exceeding half a million dollars, this Rapp & Rapp-designed house originally welcomed more than 2,500 guests. The Riviera eventually became the second major theater on the Balaban & Katz circuit, which at the time also included the Central Park Theater. Architecturally, it exudes grace and aristocracy, channeling the taste and style of Louis XIV. Silk panels covered the walls, ribbed with snow woodwork; frescoes dot the ceilings; and curved lines guide the eye towards the scene. 8,000 electric lights are scattered throughout the interior, yet none are visible to the naked eye. Color effects emerge from the roof and walls in subtle and nuanced effects. The French doors of the passageways give a view of the entire house.
The CAC recommends that visitors navigate between sites using CTA, Metra and Divvy bikes.
You can create an itinerary, view the events calendar, browse the site map, and browse different places to visit with the Chicago Architecture Center app available on iPhone here and Android here. A full list of venues on Open House Chicago for 2024 can be found here.
