Chicago Water Tower
800 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
The Chicago Water Tower is a notable Chicago landmark that was built in 1869 and survived the great 1871 Chicago Fire. The building looks more like a palace than a water tower and features several small towers and lovely limestone brickwork. The tower is 154 feet in height and stands quite small against the area's skyscrapers. The tower no longer functions, but it was chosen by the American Water Works Association as the first American Water Landmark in the United States.
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302 * 708-848-1976
Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright began building this house in 1889. As his style developed, so did the home, and Wright continued to make unique additions to it to suit his personal needs. Today, guided tours showcase his studio and its chain-hung balcony, along with a playroom designed for his children that offers treetop views. The architect's signature style and taste are clearly evident throughout the intricately designed home. Tours depart from Ginkgo Tree Bookshop.
Glessner House
1800 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616 * 312-326-1480
The Glessner House was built in 1887 and is the home of Henry Hobson Richardson Glessner, an architect whose work inspired Frank Lloyd Wright. The house has been painstakingly restored and preserved and includes an outstanding collection of 19th and 20th century furniture and decorative art. This home holds a vast assortment of pieces from the Aesthetic and English Arts and Crafts movements. The collection includes ceramic vases and tiles, silver, engravings, and Art Nouveau glass.
Graceland Cemetery
4001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
Cemetery hours don't allow guests to verify whether a green-eyed ghoul really howls at the moon. The story of the statue of six-year old Inez Clark disappearing during storms also remains a legend, but a walk-through the historical 1860 graveyard during the day is still a worthwhile experience. Inexpensive maps and guides are offered to help visitors identify famous gravesites, including that of the city's first white settler.
Robie House
5757 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 * 773-834-1847
This is one of the last and best examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie-style architecture. Horizontal lines, stained glass windows, and balconies define the structure. Wright designed the rooms to be energy efficient, keeping out direct sunlight but allowing enough light in to keep the room from growing too dark an ingenious concept in 1909, or any year for that matter.
