National Register of Historic Places

Kent, Sydney, House

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Listed
November 17, 1977
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
77000477

About this property

The Kent House, also known as Sydney Kent House or St. James Convent, is a Queen Anne style house located at 2944 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The house was designed in 1883 by Burnham & Root for Sidney A. Kent. From 1896 to 1906, it was the home of barbed-wire industrialist and robber baron John Warne Gates, better known as "Bet-a-Million" Gates for his gambling excesses. In the early 20th century, it served as the main building for what is today, National-Louis University. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and it was designated a Chicago Landmark on March 18, 1987.

Location

2944 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
41.84069, -87.62425

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Kent, Sydney, House

This page lists Kent, Sydney, House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Kent, Sydney, House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Unity Hall
Industrial
0.2 mi
Illinois Institute of Technology Academic Campus
Listed
0.3 mi
Kehilath Anshe Ma'ariv Synagogue
Industrial
0.4 mi
Roloson, Robert, Houses
Industrial
0.5 mi
S.R. Crown Hall
Industrial
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Red Summer — Chicago Race Riot 1919
1919Modern
1.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Kent, Sydney, House listed on the National Register?

Kent, Sydney, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 17, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Kent, Sydney, House?

Kent, Sydney, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Kent, Sydney, House?

The period of significance for Kent, Sydney, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Kent, Sydney, House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Kent, Sydney, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Cook County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Cook County.

Explore CookCounty ›

More historic places in Illinois

Browse all historic places in Illinois.

View Illinoishistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Illinois history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Illinoishistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Kent, Sydney, House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report