Have you ever walked by a building and thought “I wonder what that looks like inside?”
Well, now’s your chance to take a closer look behind closed doors. Open House Chicago — the city’s free annual architecture festival — is back on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
During this weekend event, you’ll have the opportunity to explore more than 170 sites across 20 Chicago neighborhoods. Discover historic landmarks, private clubs, and soaring skyscrapers — including 25 brand-new sites.
Here are just 16 new, unique, and interesting Open House Chicago sites to get you started this year.
Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport
New to Open House this year, the Ramova Theatre in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood has reopened as a live music venue, craft brewery, beer garden, and restaurant. Originally built as a movie theater in 1929, visitors can enjoy house-brewed beers from Other Half Brewing, elevated diner classics at the Ramova Grill, and a vibrant entertainment venue, contributing to the revitalization of Bridgeport neighborhood.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
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Pullman Artspace Lofts in Pullman
The Pullman Artspace Lofts offer affordable live-work housing tailored for artists. Situated in two restored 1880s Pullman factory town buildings and a new structure by Stantec Architecture, the Lofts feature 38 homes, a gallery, classrooms, and community spaces. This project has revitalized the neighborhood by transforming vacant apartment buildings and an empty lot into a vibrant artistic community.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This site is wheelchair accessible
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Double Door in Uptown
The much-anticipated relocation of the beloved Double Door Theater is underway, taking over the historic Wilson Theater. Designed by Henry L. Ottenheimer, visitors can tour the interior of the 1909 structure that was one of Uptown’s first venues showcasing nightly vaudeville acts. The building became a bank in 1919 and endured several transformations, retaining a blend of theater and banking architecture. With plans to transform the now-vacant building into a music venue, this is a unique opportunity to experience its historic interior before renovations begin.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This site is not wheelchair accessible
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Walt Disney House in Hermosa
Built by his father in 1891, this two-story wood cottage in the Hermosa neighborhood is the birthplace of Walter Elias Disney. The family welcomed Walt, their third son, on the second floor of the home in 1901. The current owners are working with the city to protect this historic spot and restore it to its original condition. Small groups will be allowed inside for a brief self-guided tour.
Saturday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
This site is not wheelchair accessible.
Tip: In the neighborhood, Right Bee Cider is a cidery located inside a former Schwinn bicycle factory and an official Open House Chicago site.
Al-Sadiq Mosque in in Bronzeville
New to Open House Chicago this year is Al-Sadiq Mosque, one of the first mosques built in the United States and the country’s oldest mosque still operating today. The structure was originally built in the Bronzeville neighborhood in 1922 as a private home. A majority of the space will be accessible for the public to explore during Open House Chicago.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
This site is not wheelchair accessible
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Tip: The Bronzeville neighborhood also has nine other Open House Chicago sites to explore while you’re there.
Wild Mile in Lincoln Park
The Wild Mile in Lincoln Park is the world’s first floating eco-park of its kind, featuring lush gardens of native wetland on floating docks. This innovative park provides vital habitats for wildlife and a serene escape for city dwellers. Since its inception, the Wild Mile has become a popular destination, offering guided tours and inviting exploration of its nearly 700 feet of floating boardwalk.
Urban Rivers staff will be leading guided tours of the Wild Mile throughout the day. Each tour will last approximately 30 minutes.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This site is wheelchair accessible
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Chess Records in South Loop
Explore the beginnings of Chicago blues at Chess Records, part of Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation. This historic recording studio is where legendary artists played and shaped the iconic sounds of rock n’ roll, Chicago style blues, and beyond. Open House Chicago visitors will have the unique opportunity to see the studio space on the second floor, frequented by artists like Muddy Waters, the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, and beyond.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The second floor studios are not wheelchair accessible
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The Driehaus Museum’s Murphy Auditorium in River North
Newly reopened and designed by renowned Chicago architects Benjamin Marshall and Charles E. Fox, the Murphy building originally served as a center for surgical research and education. The stunning building features a striking limestone exterior inspired by Paris’s Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Consolation and showcases bronze doors by Tiffany Studios depicting medical figures. Inside, visitors can enjoy a self-guided experience in the Murphy Auditorium and admire a towering, multicolored stained-glass window.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This site is wheelchair accessible
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Chicago Tool Library in West Garfield Park
Explore thousands of items at the Chicago Tool Library, housed in a transformed industrial warehouse in West Garfield Park. Members can borrow a wide variety of tools and equipment for household projects, business ventures, and community events. By providing equitable access to resources, the Tool Library fosters creative exchange, community building, and skill development across Chicago.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
This site is wheelchair accessible
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National Puerto Rican Museum in Humboldt Park
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture resides in the historic Humboldt Park stables, a stunning example of Fromman & Jebsen’s architectural design. Despite a devastating fire in 1992, the building has been meticulously restored, featuring original red-pressed brick, timber cornices, storybook turrets, and a red tile roof, alongside modern amenities. Today, this beautifully restored space hosts exhibitions, programs, and cultural activities, serving as a vibrant cultural hub for the community.
Embark on self-guided tours or join docent-led tours throughout the entire museum. Plus, each day will feature an exciting art project and a lively dance lesson.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
This site is wheelchair accessible
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Access Living in the Near North Side
Opened in 2007, the Access Living building is a pioneering example of universal and green design, created with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. The building showcases artworks by disabled artists and serves as a vital hub for disability advocacy, culture, and public events. Visitors from around the world tour Access Living to experience its barrier-free design and participate in various forums and events that elevate disability culture. Learn more about the building and universal design with guided tours from the building architects.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
This site is wheelchair accessible
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Teatro ZinZanni in the Loop
Step back in time at Teatro ZinZanni and explore an antique Belgian Spiegeltent, now home to a unique theater experience that combines cabaret, comedy, and live music. The one-of-a-kind space includes glittering chandeliers, intricate woodwork, ornate stained glass, and fantastic performances that transport audiences to a bygone era of opulence. Enjoy tours and a glimpse of performers in the lounge space and the historic Spiegeltent.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
This site is wheelchair accessible
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Austin Harvest in Austin
Austin Harvest emerged in summer 2020 as a youth-driven initiative to bring fresh produce to their community, transforming a vacant storefront into a mission-driven market. Entirely student-led, the market manages all operations and reinvests revenue into its sustainability and student stipends, addressing a critical need for the neighborhood. Originally a temporary pop-up, Austin Harvest has now evolved into a permanent fixture, featuring a repurposed shipping container and a welcoming patio where visitors can shop for produce and engage with student entrepreneurs.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
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Glessner House in South Loop
Designed by the legendary American architect Henry Hobson Richardson, this architectural marvel was completed in 1887 and remains a celebrated treasure in Chicago. A radical departure from traditional Victorian architecture, Glessner House inspired great architects like Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Enjoy guided tours of main rooms on first floor and learn how it redefined domestic architecture.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This site is not wheelchair accessible
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The Roof Crop in West Town
Built in 1928, this former manufacturing warehouse in West Town has been revitalized to house three dynamic businesses: The Roof Crop, Third Season apothecary and design store, and Flashpoint Innovation, a food and beverage consultancy with a state-of-the-art kitchen. Guided tours are available every 30 minutes exploring first and second floors as well as the green roof and greenhouses showcasing the value of meticulous craftsmanship and creativity.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
This site is wheelchair accessible
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Illinois Tech Campus in Bronzeville
For modernist architecture enthusiasts, a visit to Illinois Tech is a must. This year, S.R. Crown Hall and Carr Chapel by modern master Mies van Dder Roe are featured Open House Chicagosites.
New this year is the Kaplan Institute by John Ronan. The LEED Gold-designated building marks the first academic building to join the campus in 40 years. The star of this building is the remarkable second floor that cantilevers over the ground floor. Thanks to its unique materials and mind-bending engineering, the building has a light, cloud-like appearance.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Carr Chapel and S.R. Crown Hall arenot wheelchair accessible. Kaplan Institute is wheelchair accessible.
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Open House Chicago offers a unique opportunity to explore the city’s architectural gems, from historical landmarks to cutting-edge designs. Learn more about Chicago’s unique architectural heritage and history and plan your visit.
