What did Chicago and the world look like 150 years ago? At a time when one out of every five people lived under the control of Queen Victoria’s British empire, composers and authors were producing works that remain well-known today. Mark Twain’s novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today gave its name to the era of the robber barons, and a controversial art exhibition in Paris led to the birth of Impressionism.

Closer to home, President Ulysses S. Grant was dealing with the impact of the financial panic that had started the previous year, and King Kalakua of the Kingdom of Hawaii visited Chicago. Architects were busy rebuilding Chicago following the devastating fire of 1871, when another fire burned 47 acres of mostly wooden buildings that had escaped the first fire south of downtown.

Second Presbyterian Church dedicated its new building on South Michigan Avenue designed by James Renwick, Jr., and the Glessners purchased their first home, on Chicago’s West Side.

Join Glessner House curator William Tyre as he explores the defining moments of the year 1874 and their impact on our world, in this richly illustrated presentation.

On December 1, 1924 - exactly 100 years ago - John and Frances Glessner deeded their Prairie Avenue home to the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, retaining a life tenancy. The gift came with a stipulation that the AIA purchase the Kimball house across the street, resulting in the creation of The Architects’ Club of Chicago. It was one of the first acts of preservation in the city, and was especially important on a street whose character was rapidly transforming from residential to light industrial.

This program will explore the Glessners’ generous act within the context of the year 1924. In Chicago, it was the year that saw the dedication of the Municipal Grant Park Stadium (now Soldier Field), the completion of KAM Isaiah Israel, and the construction of the Tribune Tower. But it was also the year that saw residents, and the nation, captivated by the “trial of the century” - the conviction of Leopold and Loeb for the murder of Bobby Franks.

National events included the first radio broadcast from the White House (by President Coolidge), the appointment of J. Edgar Hoover as head of the FBI, the election of the first female governor, and the formation of companies such as IBM and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM Studios). George Gershwin was at his peak, releasing Fascinating Rhythm and The Man I Love, as well as premiering his iconic Rhapsody in Blue, which helped to define the era.

The world stage witnessed the first Winter Olympics, the death of Vladimir Lenin and renaming of St. Petersburg as Leningrad, and the revelation of King Tut’s extraordinary golden mask.

It truly was a year to remember. The richly illustrated talk will be presented by William Tyre, Executive Director and Curator.