National Register of Historic Places

Old Chicago Historical Society Building

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Listed
November 28, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78001126

About this property

The Former Chicago Historical Society Building is a historic landmark located at 632 N. Dearborn Street on the northwest corner of Dearborn and Ontario streets near downtown Chicago. Built in 1892, the granite-clad building is a prime example of Henry Ives Cobb's Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. Henry Cobb designed this home for Walter Loomis Newberry, founder of the Newberry Library in Chicago. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1997. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, under the name, Old Chicago Historical Society Building. The building was the home of the Chicago Historical Society after its original headquarters burned down in the Great Chicago Fire, and prior to its relocation to Lincoln Park in 1931. Afterwards, the building housed a magazine publisher, the Works Progress Administration, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Chicago Institute of Design (1946–1956), and recording studios (1950s and 1960s). Since 1985 it has been the location of a series of nightclubs, and presently is the location of Tao Asian Bistro's Chicago location.

Location

632 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
41.89362, -87.63001

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
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.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Tree Studio Building and Annexes
Industrial
0.1 mi
Nickerson, Samuel, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Boyce Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
Holy Name Cathedral
Industrial
0.2 mi
Lawson, Victor F., House YMCA
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Fort Dearborn (Chicago Massacre)
1812Early Republic
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Chicago Historical Society Building listed on the National Register?

Old Chicago Historical Society Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Old Chicago Historical Society Building?

Old Chicago Historical Society Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old Chicago Historical Society Building?

The period of significance for Old Chicago Historical Society Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Old Chicago Historical Society Building?

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