What to do and see in Chicago, Illinois (IL): The Best Historic Sites

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To ensure the health and safety of our guests, tours at Robie House return on June 11 and are limited to nine guests per time slot. (Updated 6/2/20) The Frederick C. Robie House on the University of Chicago campus is considered one of the most important buildings in the history of American architecture. This Prairie style masterpiece is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the 20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright List. Discover the residence Wright described as “a cornerstone of modern architecture” on guided tours that take in both the exterior and interior of the building. Inspired by the expansive landscape of the Midwest prairie, Wright’s Robie House is the most famous of the architect’s groundbreaking Prairie houses. Public tours are available Thursday - Monday. The museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Visit flwright.org to learn more.

The Rookery tours are not available at this time. (Updated 6/2/20) Set in the heart of Chicago’s financial district, Daniel Burnham and John Root’s 1888 Rookery Building is a Chicago landmark, containing one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most dramatic interior compositions – a luminous and brilliantly articulated central light court. In 1905, Wright was commissioned to remodel the Rookery light court and lobbies. He realized a stunning balance between Burnham & Root’s ornamental ironwork and his own vision to create a spectacular environment. Morning and afternoon guided tours are offered by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Monday through Friday. Learn about the building’s fascinating history and the unique contribution of one of America’s greatest architects.

A National Historic Landmark, Glessner House was designed by noted American architect Henry Hobson Richardson and completed in 1887. It remains an internationally-known architectural treasure in Chicago. A radical departure from traditional Victorian architecture, the structure served as an inspiration to architects such as Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, and the young Frank Lloyd Wright and helped redefine domestic architecture.

The Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois is one of the largest and most stunning conservatories in the world, and it’s free. We change lives through the power of nature. Often referred to as landscape art under glass, the Garfield Park Conservatory occupies approximately 12 acres inside and out, and includes cold frames and propagating where thousands of plants are grown each year for displays in City parks and spaces.

MacArthur's offices are located in the historic and beautiful Marquette Building, a Chicago landmark and one of the city's first skyscrapers. The building is a classic example of Chicago-style architecture. Designed and built by Holabird & Roche in 1895, it was named for the French Jesuit missionary and explorer Jacques Marquette. In 1975, Banker's Life and Casualty Company, owned by John D. MacArthur, acquired the Marquette Building, and in 1976 it was named a National Historic Landmark. After his death in 1978, the building became the headquarters for the Foundation which bears his name. In 2001, MacArthur undertook an extensive restoration of the building, working closely with preservation specialists to return the interior and exterior to its original splendor. There is a free exhibit in the building's arcade, just west of the lobby, at 140 South Dearborn Street. Interactive kiosks detail the building's design, history, and renovation. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. The Chicago Architecture Foundation provides scheduled tours of the building.