Chicago Cultural Center started operating in the year 1893 as the official building where all the State official receptions were held. The building originally started as the central library, and was later converted into an art and culture center.
The Chicago Cultural Center is one of the most popular places of interest being the city’s art and culture hub. The exhibits at the Chicago Cultural Center not just holds the best of the city’s collections but some of the best ones of the country’s as well. According to a survey the Chicago Cultural Center was the 5th most visited among the cultural places in Chicago in the year 2007.
More than 1000 exhibitions and programs on performance, literary, and visual arts are being held at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Location
The Chicago Cultural Center is situated across the Michigan Avenue on the Loop.
History
The Chicago Cultural Center was originally designed by the Shipley, Rutan and Coolidge, Boston architectural firm, as the Grand Army of the Republic museum and the central library. The construction was completed in 1897, and costing a total amount of $2 million.
The Chicago Cultural Center building was originally the central library venue, which was later shifted to the Harold Washington Library site, across the Loop.
Louis Comfort Tiffany art glass dome at the Chicago Cultural Center is the world’s largest dome. It was restored in 2008 in a grand manner resulting in fascinating the world.
Architecture
The Chicago Cultural Center complex is comprised of 2 buildings – 4 storied north wing, and 5 storied south wing. Entrance to the north wing is at 77 East Randolph and that to the south wing is at 78 East Washington. The buildings were designed in neoclassical style with all the Italian Renaissance components.
The Chicago Cultural Center is 104 ft. tall and has 3 ft. thick granite walls decorated with Bedford blue limestone. The 2 buildings are topped with 2 glass domes.
The Randolph entrance and stairways are a work of art themselves. The entrance is enhanced with Doric columns, coffered ceilings, mahogany doors, and the walls are done with the Vermont marble with green veins. The stairways are curved and are ornamented with pink Knoxville marble, orate bronze balusters, and mosaics.
The Washington Street entrance has arched portal, 3-storied vaulted lobby whose walls are of mosaic and white Carrara marble. The stairway is decorated with pendants of green marble from all the way to Connemara, and Ireland. The elaborate mosaics from Favrile stone, glass, and shell. The stairway to the 5th floor looks like Bridge of Sighs of Venice.
The Grand Army of the Republic museum is in the north wing. The hall is decorated with dark green Vermont marble, fragmented with mahogany doors, and arched windows. The rotunda has pink Knoxville marbled 30 ft. tall walls and Renaissance style stained glass dome designed by the Healy and Millet firm.
The Sidney R. Yates gallery is a replica of the assembly hall in Doge’s Palace in Venice. It is decorated with coffered ceiling and adorned with pilasters.
The Preston Bradley Hall is a huge room of curved white Carrara marble, topped with 38 ft. Tiffany glass dome. The well known artist J. A. Holtzer had designed this world famous dome.
Hours
Operating days and hours of the Chicago Cultural Center is as followed :
Monday – Thursday
8 am–7 pm;
Friday
8 am–6 pm
Saturday
9 am–6 pm
Sunday
10 am–6 pm.
Chicago Cultural Center is closed on public holidays and on 30th May to observe the Memorial Day.
Exhibitions
The Chicago Cultural Center is the hub of art and cultural exhibition and execution of performing arts. Since ages cultural center has been putting up exhibitions and shows in public interest. The exhibitions include the collection of the lot spoken Modernism in Ukraine by well noted Ukrainian artists.
The cultural center is also the house for screening the best films from around the globe. Mainstream commercial films, art films by the well known intellectuals from all over the world, documentaries, short films, and even armature films documented by the school and college students.
Many noted speakers and lecturers present and share their experiences and wisdom in the Chicago Cultural Center often.
Many notable musicians, singers, instrumentalists, and music bands perform at the Chicago Cultural Centre. International level music concerts and seminars on international music and research are being held at the center. Even international level dance recitals are being organized at the Chicago Cultural Center, along with stage theatre and other family programs.
Things To See Around
Tour Of The Buildings
Take a grand tour of the buildings. The buildings themselves are more than any particular art form. Rich culture, art, and heritage form the world famous dome structure and the historical architecture.
Chicago Cultural Center Shop
Shop all the marvelous art pieces in all forms, paintings, sculptures, photograph, jewelries, literary books, etc. the cultural center shop is open on Monday through Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm.
Randolph Café
Sip the steamy creamy coffee and munch on some snacks at the Randolph Cafe while the tour of the Chicago Cultural Center. The café is open from Monday to Friday from 8 am–4:30 pm, and on Saturday from 9 am–4 pm.
Visitor Information Center
Get all the information at the Chicago Cultural Center’s information center about anything related to art and culture. The information center operates from
Monday – Thursday: 8 am – 7 pm
Friday: 8 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
Holidays: 10 am – 4 pm
Tickets
Chicago Cultural Center does not charge any cost as entry fee. It is free for all.
Enhance the art and culture taste at the Chicago Culture Center amidst the rich cultural heritage within the glass dome and posh architecture.
Contact Details
Address
Chicago Cultural Centre, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Phone
312.744.6630
TTY
312.744.2947
Website
www.chicagoculturalcenter.org
culture@cityofchicago.org
