Medinah Temple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Medinah Temple |
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Medinah Temple Facade
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| General information | |
| Type | Auditorium, rebuilt as a department store in 2000, rebuilt as a casino in 2023 |
| Location | 600 N. Wabash Ave. Chicago, Illinois United States |
| Coordinates | 41°53′34″N 87°37′38″W / 41.89278°N 87.62722°W |
| Completed | 1912 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Huehl & Schmid |
The Medinah Temple is a unique building in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It has a special Moorish Revival style. You can find it on the Near North Side at 600 N. Wabash Avenue. This building stretches from Ohio Street to Ontario Street. It became a Chicago Landmark in 2000, meaning it's an important historical place.
The Medinah Temple was built in 1912 by architects Huehl & Schmid for the Shriners. It was their meeting place and had a very large auditorium. As of August 2025, it is the temporary home for Bally's Chicago casino. A bigger, permanent casino is being built nearby.
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History of Medinah Temple
From Grand Auditorium to Retail Store
The Medinah Temple first opened with a beautiful auditorium. It could hold about 4,200 people on three different levels. The stage was very large and reached far into the seating area. The seats were shaped like a "U" around the stage.
Many exciting events happened here. The yearly Shrine Circus was a big favorite. Also, WGN-TV used the temple for "The Bozo 25th Anniversary Special" in 1986.
The auditorium was also famous for its excellent sound. Because of this, many recordings were made there. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra recorded many of their famous albums here. This happened from the late 1960s through the 1980s. Even the music for the movie Fantasia 2000 was recorded at Medinah Temple. This took place between 1994 and 1996.
The auditorium also had a huge pipe organ. It was installed in 1915. This organ was one of the biggest in Chicago. In 2001, the organ was removed. It was given to a church, but it was never put back together.
Medinah Temple Becomes a Store
In late 2000, the Medinah Shriners moved out of the building. The outside of the building was fixed up to look new again. However, the inside was completely changed. It became a Bloomingdale's Home and Furniture Store. This store opened its doors in 2003.
In June 2019, the company that owned Bloomingdale's, Macy's, sold the building. A Chicago developer named Al Friedman bought it. The store closed in September 2020 to prepare for new plans. The building was officially named a Chicago Landmark on June 27, 2001.
Medinah Temple as a Casino
On May 5, 2022, news came out that the Medinah Temple would become a temporary casino. This was for Bally's Chicago. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot had approved the idea. The Chicago City Council gave its approval in December 2022. The Illinois Gaming Board also approved it in September 2023.
The temporary casino opened on September 9, 2023. It is expected to stay at Medinah Temple for a few years. The permanent casino location is being built in the River West neighborhood. It is expected to be finished in 2026. The casino's earnings in its first two years were lower than expected.
