John J. Glessner House facts for kids
Aerial view of the Glessner House
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | 1800 South Prairie Avenue, Near South Side, Chicago, Illinois |
| Type | Historic house museum |
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John J. Glessner House
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| Area | 13,070 ft² |
| Built | 1886–1887 |
| Architect | Henry Hobson Richardson |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000233 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | January 7, 1976 |
The Glessner House is a very important old home in Chicago, Illinois. It was built a long time ago, between 1885 and 1887. A famous architect named Henry Hobson Richardson designed it. This house is special because of its unique style and how it was built.
Today, the Glessner House is a house museum. This means people can visit it to learn about its history and see how people lived there in the past. It's a protected building, recognized as a Chicago Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.
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Meet John J. Glessner
John Jacob Glessner (1843–1936) was a successful businessman. He was a partner in a company that made farm machines. In 1870, after he got married, he moved to Chicago. He opened a branch office for his company there.
Later, in 1902, his company joined with several others to form International Harvester. This new company became one of the biggest in the country! John Glessner became a vice president there. He lived a long life, passing away at 92 years old.
John Glessner had two children. His daughter, Frances Glessner Lee, became a famous forensic scientist. This means she used science to help solve crimes.
In the late 1800s, Prairie Avenue was the most fancy street in Chicago. Because he was doing well, Glessner decided to build a home for his family on this famous street. He chose Henry Hobson Richardson to design it.
Architect Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a very important architect in the late 1800s. He wanted to create a new style of architecture that showed the strength of the growing United States. He developed a style called Richardsonian Romanesque.
This style took ideas from old European buildings from the 11th and 12th centuries. These buildings often had heavy, rough-cut stones. Richardson used these ideas but made them new for America. Even though heavy stones weren't needed for building strength anymore, Richardson used them to create a unique look. He wanted buildings to feel private and separate from the busy city.
The Glessner House was the last building Richardson designed. He passed away at age 48, just three weeks after the house was finished.
Why the Glessner House is Special
The Glessner House is considered one of the most important homes built in the 1800s. This is because of its smart design and unique floor plan.
- Clever Layout: The house walls are built very close to the edges of its land. This allowed for a large, private courtyard inside the property.
- Natural Light & Privacy: This courtyard let lots of sunlight into the main rooms through windows facing south. It also gave the family privacy, which was hard to find in city homes.
- Smart Protection: A long hallway for servants was placed along the north side of the house. This hallway acted like a buffer. It protected the family areas from the noise and dirt of the street. It also blocked the cold winter winds.
The outside of the house is covered in granite stones. These stones are laid in different heights, making the house look strong and horizontal. There isn't much decoration. You can see a carved arch over the front door and some carved designs on the second-floor columns.
Not everyone understood the house's design at first. George Pullman, who lived across the street, famously said he didn't like "that thing staring me in the face." But over time, people realized how special it was.
Saving the Glessner House
After John Glessner died in 1936, the house was given to the American Institute of Architects. However, they couldn't afford to keep it up. So, the Glessner family got it back. In 1937, they gave the house to the Armour Institute (which is now the Illinois Institute of Technology).
Later, a printing research group used the house. They even put large printing presses inside many of the rooms! When this group moved out in the early 1960s, the house was in danger of being torn down.
But a group of architects and people who cared about old buildings stepped in. They formed the Chicago Architecture Foundation in 1966 to save the house. They bought it for only $35,000! Soon after, the Glessner family started returning the original furniture and items to the house.
The Glessner House Today
The Glessner House opened for public tours in 1971. It is kept in good condition with money from tour fees and donations. Many of the rooms have been carefully restored to look just as they did when the Glessners lived there.
The house has a wonderful collection of old furniture and art. The Glessners loved to collect beautiful things from England and America. You can see items by famous designers like William Morris and Émile Gallé throughout the house.
Today, the Glessner House Museum is a non-profit organization. Thousands of people visit it every year for tours and special events. It's a great place to learn about history, architecture, and how a wealthy family lived in Chicago long ago.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Glessner para niños
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Illinois
- Henry B. Clarke House adjoins Glessner House
- Rocks Estate, Glessner's summer estate in New Hampshire
