Glessner House Tour and Prairie Avenue Walk
Prairie Avenue from 17th Street south is a very historic part of Chicago. Although most people see Prairie Avenue to the south of 18th Street it is essential to walk north across 18th street to look at the property on the northwest corner of the intersection. That property is the site, notwithstanding of where the “Fort Dearborn “Massacre”” historical marker is located, the site of the (the word “massacre” is a white view of what took place there on August 15, 1812) battle itself, of where much of the fighting took place. It is also the property on which George Pullman built his mansion and lived while owning the far south side Pullman works.
House Tour - A National Historic Landmark, Glessner House was designed by noted American architect Henry Hobson Richardson and completed in 1887. The Glessner family lived in the house for fifty years, through the heyday and decline of the Prairie Avenue neighborhood. This is a private (not open to the public) 75-minute tour for the Chicago Genealogical Society to see how Chicago’s rich industrialists were living in modern-day castles designed during the Gilded Age.
Walking Tour - Following the house tour, CGS’ Craig Pfannkuche, will lead a walking tour sharing what happened on the ground throughout its history and development from 1812 to the present day. We intend as well to discuss the presence of the 1840s era Clark House located to the south of the Glessner House. We may even wonder where Marshall Field’s son actually died.
Registered attendees will meet at the Glessner House, 1800 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, at the visitors center located immediately inside the large green coach house door facing 18th street at the rear of the building at 10:00am. Parking options can be found on the Glessner House website www.glessnerhouse.org The house is not ADA accessible.
Both CGS members and non-members are welcome.
Cost: $10.00 members
$17.00 non-members
Registration closes on September 30, 2023 at noon. No refunds after September 30, 2023 at noon. The online payment service fee of $1.50 will be deducted from refunds.
If you are unable to attend, we plan on live streaming some of the walking tour about 11:30am CT on Facebook so check it out.
Photo with permission from the Glessner House
