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Chicago’s Gilded Age saw some of the country’s most opulent houses, but one in particular went on to inspire some of the greatest architects of the 20th century.
Location: Chicago ,IL
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CC2.0(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en): Teemu008, artistmac, Eric Allix Rogers, Damian entwistle
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Public Domain Photos from Glessnerhouse.org, Library of Congress
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Excerpt from Thamas C Hubka’s “H.H. Richardson’s Glessner House: A garden in the Machine
41 Comments
Check out the Glessner House Candlelight tour: https://www.glessnerhouse.org/programs/christmas-candlelight-first-saturday
The Glessner house is a must visit in Chicago for all architecture fans. It is in an amazing state of preservation, with furniture, art and decor so intact that it feels as if the family has only stepped out for a moment, soon to return.
In Golden Gate Park San Francisco : has a Children's playground building called Sharon Art Building built in 1888.
It is a building in the ' Richardsonian Romanesque Style./S.F. landmark #124
It’s beautiful but definitely not my style, a bit brusque and brooding. The stonework facade is so strong and handsome. Clearly the inside and courtyard could have fared better with a gayer hand!
I really liked the original facade the architect proposed.
Friends of mine held their wedding reception there
This is one of your most informative episodes yet, Ken.
Thanks for your hard work on this and all your videos. Can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you for creating this wonderful channel. I live in Australia where English and the colonisation – or colonazition 😉 – of Australia was covered in our history lessons at school, but very little on American history.
Your channel not only fascinates me daily from an architectural design perspective, but regularly exposes historical American figures I knew little or nothing about – thus expanding my knowledge further as I research these individuals. They often connect to other historical figures I do know of which is exciting.
My only frustration is that in cases where the houses you feature are still in existence, even kept or restored to the original design and open for viewing, most of the content shown is black and white photographs. It would be sensational to see these rooms in living colour and even side by side shots of now vs. then.
I know your channel is young, and has come a very long way in its short time on YouTube. The amount of content you produce must require more hours of research than I can comprehend, so I was wondering – is it a funding issue that prevents visiting the sites today? Is it greater numbers of members you need to fund the extra help, travel expenses, meet set deadlines to enhance content that you have otherwise obviously well researched and released with passion?
Edit* This is not meant to be a criticism at all, but rather asking if you need specific assistance in order to meet growing interests and requests from your followers?
Thank you for a very detailed video! I just learned about this fabulous house, and I'm very happy I did!!
Truly spectacular!
I enjoy very much your videos, keep up your great work, and thank you for adding to my general culture!
What I am most interested in is what the ultra wealthy were able to incorporate into their mansions for sanitation, water and heat. As interesting as your TH features are you fail to cover it in any detail. Obviously this house has many fireplaces. Was that the main or only source of warmth. Fireplaces are terribly inefficient ways of heating using way too much fuel in a relatively short amount of time. Then there is water, toilets, and bath/showers. Did this or any of the other 19th century mansions have running water, flush toilets, and a central heating systems?
In future TH episodes it would be greatly appreciated if you would cover this. As grandiose and extravagant the features of these multi million dollar mansions were minus the amenities I mentioned it would less than luxurious and comfortable.
A truly happy ending for the house and future generations; boy did I need it today :). Thanks.
I loved this. Thank you. I tried to become a supporter but it’s not allowed from Mexico, where I live. Sorry. I’ll try again, next time I’m in the states. Seeing this and the I H connection I thought of Viscaya and the John Deere palazzo in Coral Gables or Miami or anyway…down in Florida. Might be another cool this house episode. I really enjoy your productions.
The whole time I was growing up in Chicago never heard of this place
Thanks for making this video, H H Richardson is one of my favorite architects. The William Morris prints and de Morgan tiles were a rare treat; I'm a great fan of both artists.
that dining room table does not look like it sits 18 people!!!!!!
Another wonderful video! Thanks!
Always impressed with the work Francis- a hero in forensics.
I fail to see the significance of this house. The interior is vapid, cluttered with bric-a bracs and with an overall messy look.
Amazing architecture! Toronto Old City Hall built in 1899, by Edward James Lennox, was done in the Richardsonian Romanesque style ! That is why Glessner House looked so familiar to me!
I had a stroke and haven't been able to comment on all your videos, but I get to watch them all!! Keep up the awesome work, I want ALLL the houses lol
So glad this house was saved.
This is amazing. You really, really need to come to Buffalo and learn about our grand homes…..including our Richardsonian's.
Much more impressive inside than out – with good guides even though it was a fairly full tour when I was there. Mean to go back sometime. The whole of Prairie Avenue is fascinating – there's an old out of print book that takes you back to the days when that street truly meant something.
The Glessners were my great-great grandparents. Many of the tiles in the fireplaces and much of the furniture was returned from FGL’s summer home, The Rocks Estate, in Bethlehem NH after my grandmother passed away. When I was lucky enough to tour the house, the docent was shocked when I told her I had slept in Frances’ bed! You did the house justice! Thank you!
Like many creative geniuses, Richardson is an anomaly to to the passive observer, but a passion to the engaged participant.
🙂 🏚️
While living in Chicago I was fortunate enough to see this amazing building. Seeing the photography again was a treat
I love Richardsonian Romanesque, and this is a magnificent example of Richardson's art. The addition of William Morris wallpaper and other fine details, make this a truly marvelous house. I'm so glad it was saved – so much architecture is lost in the US, as we tend to always want 'new'. I had heard of the daughter's forensic interests and achievements, but I hadn't connected her with this house. I've seen pictures of it in books on late 19th – early 20th century domestic architecture, and have long admired it. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Frances was beautiful? Um…I think her intelligence was her strong point.
I guess I'll take the unpopular opinion on this one. While the house is beautiful on the inside, it seems like a small prison on the outside. Looks more suitable for inmates than a wealthy resident.
Perhaps a fortress is a better view of it, but that still doesn't invoke beauty to me.
Love the video nonetheless and I AM glad Richardson and the Glessners thought outside the box and built it. I DO like that it's not run of the mill guilded age. And I'm glad it still stands.
The woodwork’ in this house is awesome!
A bit much of “stuff “ in is house, hard to maintain.
What a medieval exterior!
It’s really not a homey home,but interesting!
Magnificent reception hall
International Harvester is no longer in Springfield, and all has been bulldozed.
One of the things of interest is the Westcott’s house (frank loyd wright’s) owner of the westcott automobile.
The house was saved and restored to the original plans when possible as some of the features were not build as planned to save money, but build to spec in the remodel
It’s an amazing place
The exterior certainly a lot more imposing than the interior.
Hay fever impacted the son’s development? Lol we complain that kids these days are too sensitive and weak. Wish my seasonal allergies would have allowed me special treatment.
Interesting but not clear why it's historic.
This really seems to be a house made for a sensible, unpretentious couple who valued craftsmanship and functionality over grandeur. I‘m glad the house survives intact to this day.
H.H. Richardson was contracted by many wealthy families of the 19th century to design there impressive homes. In my home state of MA the Ames family utilized Richardson in the creation of their homes and public buildings in North Easton, MA. I recognized Ames Memorial Hall in your video showing examples of his designs. I believe this town has 5 buildings designed by Richardson and commissioned by the Ames family including the gatehouse to Langewater estate, the last surviving home still occupied by the descendants of the Ames family and forever protected by its inclusion on the national register of historic places. Thank you Ken for spotlighting this architect and the Glessner home in Chicago as an example of his work.