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Avant-Garde in the Alley:Join us in person on Sunday, November 15 at 2:00pm when Zac Bleicher, Executive Director of the...
10/21/2026

Avant-Garde in the Alley:

Join us in person on Sunday, November 15 at 2:00pm when Zac Bleicher, Executive Director of the Edgar Miller Legacy, provides a fascinating look at Chicago’s art scene in the 1920s. “Avant-Garde in the Alley: Modern Art, Theatrical Innovation, and the Chicago Artistic Renaissance in Towertown” will explore the bohemian neighborhood around the Water Tower that was home and gathering spot for artists, radicals, and free thinkers. The work of artist Edgar Miller will be highlighted, and selected pieces of his artwork will be on display. Register online at https://www.glessnerhouse.org/events/avant-garde-in-the-alley.

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Frances Glessner:Today we remember Frances Macbeth Glessner, who died on this date in 1932. She had fallen seriously ill...
10/19/2026

Frances Glessner:

Today we remember Frances Macbeth Glessner, who died on this date in 1932. She had fallen seriously ill while at The Rocks, her New Hampshire summer estate, and was rushed back to Chicago by special train, returning to her beloved Prairie Avenue home less than 24 hours before she died. This studio portrait, taken in the late 1870s, shows her around the age of 30, surrounded by the typical Victorian excess of the period.

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10/18/2026

Open House Chicago Today!

Open House Chicago is this weekend! Come over for a brief (free) 10-minute tour of the first floor if you’re in the area. 1800 S. Prairie Ave, from 10am - 5pm.

Go to https://www.glessnerhouse.org/ for information about Glessner House, and to
https://openhousechicago.org/events/ for suggested info and itineraries on other Open House Chicago sites.

Photo Friday: This week’s Photo Friday commemorates the 135th anniversary of the first concert of the Chicago Orchestra,...
10/18/2026

Photo Friday:

This week’s Photo Friday commemorates the 135th anniversary of the first concert of the Chicago Orchestra, known since 1913 as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Glessners, who were founders and major supporters of the orchestra, attended both the October 16 and 17, 1891 performances, led by the first music director Theodore Thomas. The concert took place at the Auditorium Theatre, home of the orchestra until its move to present day Symphony Center in 1904.

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The restoration of the parlor:On October 14, 2011 – exactly 15 years ago – the restored parlor was opened to the public....
10/14/2026

The restoration of the parlor:

On October 14, 2011 – exactly 15 years ago – the restored parlor was opened to the public. Funding was provided by a bequest from Bunny Selig, gifts in memory of Aileen Mandel, and a grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. A highlight of the restoration was the recreation of the hand painted canvas wallcovering. These images by are from our new publication, H. H. Richardson’s Glessner House: A Guide Book available at https://www.glessnerhouse.org/online-store.

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Columbus Day:This elaborate, hand-carved medallion, with the head of Christopher Columbus at center, formed part of the ...
10/12/2026

Columbus Day:

This elaborate, hand-carved medallion, with the head of Christopher Columbus at center, formed part of the decoration of a massive mahogany sideboard in the private dining room at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The piece was later acquired by John Jefferson Gibson (1851-1902), the official portrait photographer at the fair; his widow gifted it to Chicago artist Jack Simmerling, who bequeathed it to Glessner House in 2013.

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Dear Rhoda!On Monday, November 16 at 7:00pm, the Shakespeare Project of Chicago will appear at Glessner House to present...
10/07/2026

Dear Rhoda!

On Monday, November 16 at 7:00pm, the Shakespeare Project of Chicago will appear at Glessner House to present “Dear Rhoda,” a theatrical reading with music. Inspired by the real-life letters of Chicago bookseller Jerry Nedwick, the play is set in the vibrant chaos of 1920s Chicago, where Jerry and Rhoda Katz find each other at the Dil Pickle Club – a bohemian haven for artists, radicals, and free thinkers in Chicago’s Towertown neighborhood. The performance is free of charge, but registration is required as space is limited. Register online at https://www.glessnerhouse.org/events/dear-rhoda.

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Poe ReadingsJoin us on Halloween for our 38th annual Edgar Allan Poe readings, provided by . Tickets remain for the 8:00...
10/06/2026

Poe Readings
Join us on Halloween for our 38th annual Edgar Allan Poe readings, provided by . Tickets remain for the 8:00pm reading only. Hear classics such as The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart as well as some of Poe’s lesser known short stories and poems. The perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit! Purchase tickets online at https://www.glessnerhouse.org/events/poe-readings

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Photo Friday:This week’s Photo Friday celebrates the 103rd anniversary of John Glessner presenting his children with lea...
10/03/2026

Photo Friday:

This week’s Photo Friday celebrates the 103rd anniversary of John Glessner presenting his children with leather bound copies of “The Story of a House.” Glessner wrote the book to document the history of the house and his interactions with architect H. H. Richardson. The prominent architectural photography firm, Kaufmann & Fabry Co., provided more than sixty images. Reprints of the book are available in our museum store and online at https://glessnerhouse.app.neoncrm.com/giftstore/product?id=12.

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Address

1800 S Prairie Avenue
Chicago, IL
60616

Telephone

+13123261480

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