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 very large and unique building in Chicago, Illinois. It was built in 1912 by a group called the Shriners, who are part of a fraternal organization. The building was designed by architects Huehl & Schmid in a special style called Moorish Revival, which looks like buildings from North Africa and the Middle East.
You can find the Medinah Temple on the Near North Side of Chicago, at 600 N. Wabash Avenue. It stretches between Ohio Street and Ontario Street. In 2022, it was announced that this historic building would become a temporary casino called Bally's Chicago. This temporary casino will be used while a new, larger casino is being built nearby.
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A Look Back: The Medinah Temple's Past
The Medinah Temple was first built as a huge auditorium. It could hold about 4,200 people on three different levels! The stage was very big and reached far into the audience area. The seats were arranged in a U-shape around the stage.
Home to a Giant Organ
In 1915, a massive pipe organ was installed in the auditorium. It was built by the Austin Organ Company and was one of the biggest organs in Chicago. It had 92 "ranks" (sets of pipes) and could be played from two different keyboards, one fixed and one that could be moved.
Famous Events and Recordings
Many exciting events happened at the Medinah Temple. One of the most popular was the yearly Shrine Circus, which was a big hit with families. The building was also used for special TV shows, like "The Bozo 25th Anniversary Special" in 1986.
The Medinah Temple was also famous for its amazing sound quality. Because of its great acoustics, many famous musical groups chose to record their music there. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, for example, made many of their well-known recordings there from the 1960s to the 1980s. Even parts of the music for the Disney movie Fantasia 2000 were recorded at the Medinah Temple between 1994 and 1996.
Changes Over the Years
Around the year 2000, the Shriners moved out of the building. The outside of the Medinah Temple was carefully fixed up, but the inside was completely changed. It was turned into a large retail store.
Becoming a Landmark
Because of its unique history and architecture, the Medinah Temple was named a Chicago Landmark on June 27, 2001. This means it's a special building that the city wants to protect. For a while, it was home to a Bloomingdale's Home and Furniture Store, which opened in 2003. However, that store closed in September 2020.
The Casino Era Begins
On May 5, 2022, it was announced that the Medinah Temple would become a temporary casino. This was part of the plan for Bally's Chicago casino. The idea was approved by Chicago's Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the Chicago City Council, and the Illinois Gaming Board. The temporary casino officially opened its doors on September 9, 2023. It will stay at the Medinah Temple until the permanent Bally's casino is finished being built in the River West neighborhood, which is expected to be around 2026.
