Former Chicago Historical Society Building facts for kids
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Old Chicago Historical Society Building
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HABS image from 1963
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 Location in Central Chicago
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 632 N. Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois |
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| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Henry Ives Cobb |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001126 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1978 |
The Former Chicago Historical Society Building is a really old and important building in downtown Chicago. You can find it at 632 N. Dearborn Street. It was built way back in 1892.
This building is a great example of a style called Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. It was designed by a famous architect named Henry Ives Cobb. He also designed the Newberry Library in Chicago.
The building is so special that it was named a Chicago Landmark in 1997. Before that, in 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
A Building with Many Lives
This historic building has had many different uses over the years! After the terrible Great Chicago Fire, the Chicago Historical Society used this building as its main home. They stayed there until 1931, when they moved to Lincoln Park.
After the Historical Society moved out, the building became home to many other groups. A magazine company used it, and then the Works Progress Administration had offices there. This was a government program that helped people find jobs during tough times.
Later, the building housed the Loyal Order of Moose, which is a community service group. From 1946 to 1956, it was home to the Chicago Institute of Design, a school for art and design. In the 1950s and 1960s, it even had recording studios where music was made!
Since 1985, the building has been used as a place for entertainment. It has housed several different large venues over the years. These places often had multiple rooms for different activities.
In 2012, after some changes, it reopened with a big remodel. It featured different entertainment spaces, a restaurant, and a lounge. The building was bought by a new group in 2014.
Most recently, in 2018, a new restaurant and entertainment spot opened on the second floor of the building. This shows how this historic building keeps changing and adapting over time!
See also
- Chicago architecture
