Chicago Cultural Center became America’s first free municipal cultural center and is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions. The cultural center is also considered one of the most comprehensive art showcases in the country. Opened in 1897, the building was originally used as the city’s central library, but in 1991 the library officially moved just across the Loop into a spacious postmodern building. More than 1,000 programs and exhibits covering performing, visual and literary arts are showcased.
The building is an architectural marvel and you can spend several hours just walking around the grounds before going inside. However, inside there are 5 floors with elaborate furnishings and decor to explore and enjoy. In addition to housing different exhibits and hosting events, there are also work spaces and after-school programs located within the center to aid the community.
Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago - one of the highlights of 12 Free Things to Do in Chicago (Read all about Chicago here)
photo by Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified
Highlights of the Chicago Cultural Center
To get the full effect of the beauty of the original building, enter through the Washington Street lobby, which was once the original entrance for the central library. No expense was spared when welcoming visitors into the library. Extending for three floors, you can see the beautiful mosaics of glass, gold leaf, mother of pearl, and precious stones that are set in the style of the Italian masters. The white Italian Carrara marble, the most expensive in the world, was taken from the same quarries that Michaelangelo used to create his famous masterpieces.
You’ll want to make your way to the south side of the third floor to visit the Preston Bradley Hall. While the ornate white Carrara marble ceiling is stunning and memorable, it’s the centerpiece that makes the trip worth it. In the middle of the ceiling, you will find a 38-foot Tiffany glass dome, the largest of its kind, constructed of over 30,000 individual pieces. Be sure to bring your camera!
History of the Chicago Cultural Center
Opening in 1897, the building nicknamed the "People’s Palace" originally served two purposes. Its main purpose was to be the Chicago Public Library, with the doors on the Washington Street side. The second purpose was for the headquarters for the Grand Army of the Republic, the Civil War Union Army veterans’ organization, which was housed on the Randolph Street side. By 1947, the library took over the entire building.
In 1977, the conversion from library to Chicago Cultural Center began, as some of the library’s collections began to enter into storage. The re-dedication of the building to the Chicago Cultural Center was completed in 1991 when the library finished the move into their new permanent home across the Loop from their original one.
Good to Know About the Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural Center is located in the Loop area of Chicago, which is just across from Millennium Park, so there are plenty of activities around that you can take advantage of while you’re in the neighborhood. The tour of the Cultural Center may only take about 2 to 3 hours, but you can find yourself in the same neighborhood for an entire day walking through parks, visiting museums, looking at different architecture, shopping, and dining at some great restaurants.
Before heading out, check online for the best route to take and the best places to park. Most of the streets around the Cultural Center are one-way, so it might not be as direct of a drive as you may think. There are several bus and train stations at, and around, the Cultural Center, so you may decide that public transportation is an easy mode of transportation for that day.
Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago
Location: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
Open: Monday--Friday from 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday--Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 312-744-6630
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