Join the Benjamin Marshall Society on a virtual drive of Chicago from one end to the other as we explore the life, work, and legacy of one of Chicago's most prolific architects, in honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth.

It's a short trip through history that will show the impact one person can have on the great city of Chicago. We will travel virtually from the site of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the South Shore Cultural Center, through the Loop, along Lake Shore Drive, and past the ghosts of Edgewater Beach before arriving at the gates of Marshall's lost North Shore mansion. 

SOLD OUT! Uncover the groundbreaking design of Glessner House on our exclusive tours! Step back in time to 1887 and witness a piece of architectural history that sparked controversy and paved the way for modern residential design. As you explore this magnificent building from basement to attic, you'll gain an in-depth understanding of the work of H. H. Richardson and the lasting impact he had on architects such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. This is a rare opportunity to delve into the history and intricacies of this masterpiece, with access to areas not seen on public tours and a chance to view Richardson's original sketch. Don't miss this unforgettable two-hour journey into the heart of architectural innovation!

This very special tour provides attendees with the rare opportunity to visit the interiors of several landmarked homes in the Prairie Avenue Historic District. See beautifully carved wood moldings, leaded glass windows, fireplaces in elaborate tile, mosaic, and marble, and much more!

Sites tentatively included on the 2024 tour (list subject to change):
-Marshall Field Jr. house, 1919 S. Prairie Avenue (Solon S. Beman, architect; 1883;
remodeling by Daniel H. Burnham & Co., 1902)
-Charles Purdy house, 213 E. Cullerton Street, (Thomas & Rapp, architects; 1891)
-William Reid house, 2013 S. Prairie Avenue (Beers, Clay & Dutton, architects; 1894)
-Harriet Rees house, 2017 S. Prairie Avenue (Cobb & Frost, architects, 1888)
-The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, originally Engine Company 104, 1401 S. Michigan Avenue (Charles F. Hermann, 1905)
-Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation, 2120 S. Michigan Avenue (historic studio of Chess Records)

An abbreviated tour of Glessner House is included as well as historic Second Presbyterian Church with its landmarked Arts and Crafts interior and collection of Tiffany windows.

Tour guides will also be stationed at various locations in the neighborhood to discuss and show photos of prominent lost houses including those of Marshall Field, George Pullman, Philip Armour, and others.

Pack your picnic basket, grab your blanket and chairs, and chill your favorite beverages and head over for a special Courtyard Concert at Glessner House, part of our 2024 jazz series.

Our final jazz concert of the season will feature Elaine Dame, joined by celebrated guitarist Kyle Asche. Since 1996, the woman Time Out Chicago calls “a jazz dynamo" and "a gem in the city's vocal jazz scene" has been turning heads and capturing attention at venerable jazz venues from coast to coast, bringing her unique, superlative interpretations to vintage vocal classics and modern standards alike.

SOLD OUT! Step into a world where 60 percent of a family’s home was dedicated to areas for paid servants to live and work. Immerse yourself in the captivating story of this 17,400 square foot mansion, designed by the celebrated architect Henry Hobson Richardson in 1885. Commissioned to house the Glessner family and their live-in staff of eight, this architectural gem offers a rare glimpse into the life of servants in the late 19th century.

Join us on a journey through time as we delve into the extraordinary records maintained by Frances Glessner. Her personal journal and a separate book, where she documented each servant as they came and went, provide an unparalleled insight into the lives of these unsung heroes.

Hundreds of shipwrecks lay at the bottom of Lake Michigan. In this online presentation, we will explore the history, archaeology and public interpretation of two significant Wisconsin shipwrecks, Niagara (1856) and Phoenix (1847). Both shipwrecks reside within the recently designated Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary and are part of the new “Wisconsin’s Shipwreck Coasts” exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

The program will be given by Executive Director Kevin Cullen, who has spent the last two decades working in the field of archaeology – both on land and underwater - on three continents and throughout the United States. Since 2022, he has served as a Sanctuary Advisory Council member for the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

The Chicago Maritime Museum, located on the River Level of the Bridgeport Art Center at 35th Street and Racine Avenue, opened in July 2016. The museum offers visitors a chronological walk through local maritime history including the eras of French fur traders, sail and steam-powered vessels, modern commercial Great Lakes frigates, recreational sailing and the Ralph and Rita Frese Canoe Collection. Designed by renowned architect and CMM chairman emeritus, Dirk Lohan, the 10,000-square-foot museum serves as a window into Chicago’s maritime history. 

The museum unveiled two new permanent exhibitions in May 2024, the most significant addition to the galleries since it opened. The exhibitions focus on the Lady Elgin, the deadliest disaster on the open waters of the Great Lakes on a passenger trip from Milwaukee to Chicago in 1860, and on Chicago native, Captain Bill Pinkney, the first Black sailor to solo-circumnavigate the globe around the five Great Capes.

Following the private guided tour of the museum for our group, attendees may continue to explore the exhibits on their own.

Charles J. Connick: America’s Visionary Stained Glass Artist is the first comprehensive account of Charles J. Connick, America’s most innovative and influential stained-glass artist working in the first half of the twentieth century. When Connick (1875-1945) began his stained-glass career in Pittsburgh in the 1890s, America’s fascination with the newly invented “opalescent” windows of Tiffany and La Farge meant that the original traditions of the art form were almost forgotten.

This richly illustrated book, representing decades of research, presents the dynamic trajectory of Connick’s artistic development, and analyzes Connick’s work in the contest of the Arts and Crafts and “Modern Gothic” movement in architecture and the applied arts.

Author Peter Cormack is a noted scholar of post-medieval British and American stained glass, William Morris, and the Arts and Crafts Movement. He is the author of a number of books, including Arts & Crafts Stained Glass.

Tales of strange sounds, unexplained sightings, and untimely endings await as you explore Prairie Avenue after dark! During this 60 minute walking tour through the Prairie Avenue Historic District, learn about the mystery surrounding the death of Marshall Field Jr., the tragic events that plagued the Philander Hanford house, the lingering ghost of Edson Keith, and more - if you dare! Advance ticket required.

SOLD OUT! Immerse yourself in the stunning design philosophy of William Morris. Reflecting the deep interests of Frances Glessner and the renowned architect Henry Hobson Richardson in the English Arts and Crafts Movement, Glessner House showcases what is believed to be the largest collection of Morris wallpapers, textiles, and rugs in any publicly accessible residence in the United States.

Join us for a tour of this historic gem and discover the beauty and craftsmanship of Morris's work. From original pieces by Morris and William De Morgan, to faithfully reproduced wallpapers and textiles, you'll gain an intimate understanding of the design philosophy that defined the Arts and Crafts movement.

Squirm in your seats as actors from Lifeline Theatre present readings of Poe's terrifying stories and poetry. Hear classics like The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart, as well as some of Poe's lesser known works. This is an extremely popular event and people return year after year, so don't wait, tickets sell out fast!

Tales of strange sounds, unexplained sightings, and untimely endings await as you explore Prairie Avenue after dark! During this 60 minute walking tour through the Prairie Avenue Historic District, learn about the mystery surrounding the death of Marshall Field Jr., the tragic events that plagued the Philander Hanford house, the lingering ghost of Edson Keith, and more - if you dare! Advance ticket required.

Uncover the groundbreaking design of Glessner House on our exclusive tours! Step back in time to 1887 and witness a piece of architectural history that sparked controversy and paved the way for modern residential design. As you explore this magnificent building from basement to attic, you'll gain an in-depth understanding of the work of H. H. Richardson and the lasting impact he had on architects such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. This is a rare opportunity to delve into the history and intricacies of this masterpiece, with access to areas not seen on public tours and a chance to view Richardson's original sketch. Don't miss this unforgettable two-hour journey into the heart of architectural innovation!

Step into a world where 60 percent of a family’s home was dedicated to areas for paid servants to live and work. Immerse yourself in the captivating story of this 17,400 square foot mansion, designed by the celebrated architect Henry Hobson Richardson in 1885. Commissioned to house the Glessner family and their live-in staff of eight, this architectural gem offers a rare glimpse into the life of servants in the late 19th century.

Join us on a journey through time as we delve into the extraordinary records maintained by Frances Glessner. Her personal journal and a separate book, where she documented each servant as they came and went, provide an unparalleled insight into the lives of these unsung heroes.