Is This the Most Important Gilded Age Mansion in America? (Glessner House)

Chicago’s Gilded Age saw some of the country’s most opulent houses, but one in particular went on to inspire some of the greatest architects of the 20th century.
Check out the Glessner House: www.glessnerhouse.org
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Location: Chicago, IL
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Photos from: Library of Congress
CC2.0: Teemu008, artistmac, Eric Allix Rogers, Damian entwistle
CC4.0: Shruti Kansara
Assets From: Envato Elements
Public Domain Photos from Glessner House, Library of Congress
Music from: Epidemic Sound
Excerpt from Thamas C Hubka’s “H.H. Richardson’s Glessner House: A garden in the Machine

[@ThisHouse]

Check out the Glessner House Candlelight tour: www.glessnerhouse.org/programs/christmas-candlelight-first-saturday

[@janina8559]

I would hate to be the housekeeper responsible for dusting that place. They kinda lived like hoarders. The daughter and sons bedrooms looked organized. But the rest of the house had way to much going in and not enough put away.

[@scoopj57]

The Glessners were my great-great grandparents. Many of the tiles in the fireplaces and much of the furniture was returned from FGL’s summer home, The Rocks Estate, in Bethlehem NH after my grandmother passed away. When I was lucky enough to tour the house, the docent was shocked when I told her I had slept in Frances’ bed! You did the house justice! Thank you!

[@derricklangford4725]

It's amazing to think that your great -great grandparents, had a live in staff of 8, kinda of like Downton Abbey, I'm pretty sure you've downsized 😉

[@sharlenelaughlin2643]

😆😁🤪😁

[@elainebmack]

You certainly come from good stock! I grew up in a very large apartment in Chicago and visited Glessner House many times. It has a "modern" feel to it - the concept of "tough" exterior combined with inner warmth and family feeling. and must have been a major inspiration for the Chicago School of apartment design.

[@gnolan4281]

@@elainebmack i was wondering about that. The massive rusticated stone work seems a bit formidable but combined with an interior warmth goes to the point made about the architect accepting and harmonizing conflicting style elements in the US. Good comment.

[@genghis_connie]

@@elainebmack You’re so lucky to have seen it. I left Chicago in 2014 and had not heard of it. Do you know the cross street? He did say 18tg St. That brick seems like what we see on MCM houses. Interesting - and from Joliet?

[@NelsonClick]

Honestly, I never heard of this building but knowing it now I can see it's one of the most significant residential American homes ever built. Everything about this house has an advanced sensibility. An awareness of what came before and what everyone else was doing in order to avoid mistakes. There was no social climbing "they're going to be so impressed" anxiety or false declarations of eminence. Only a desire for comfort and harmony in living. That's why it's important.

[@paco7992]

I wish he would do the Chicago moon-lighting houses of Wrights. You can see the influence but so early they have an equal amount of "Victorian ".

[@33Donner77]

Purchased for $35,000. It's fortunate that the house still has a purpose in our throw-away society. The design reminds me of an Italian urban Renaissance palace, with a fortress-like appearance facing the city streets as protection against occasional fighting factions. The interior is American, avoiding the ostentations of so many east coast mansions.

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

Very good observation. It was a house to enjoy and not a garish showpiece like most late XIX century vulgar new rich wanted.

[@Dave-gy1hx]

Agreed, we throw so many important things away today....it is a breath of fresh air when I see we have saved something as important as this.

[@adrianh.callais7565]

As one architect described it the north elevation is a wind shield and the south elevation is a sun trap. Also, most historians consider his work to be based from French Romanesque. The rear courtyard is probably a memory from his New Orleans childhood. I do like your cultural analysis of the house. French Romanesque developed from Italian Romanesque.

[@pauljackman7137]

The Glessner house is a must visit in Chicago for all architecture fans. It is in an amazing state of preservation, with furniture, art and decor so intact that it feels as if the family has only stepped out for a moment, soon to return.

[@cocoaorange1]

I visited it back in 2000 or 2001. I grew up on the West Side, but have been a resident of Uptown for 20 years.

[@michaelroark2019]

If I had to sum up the house in one word, it is taste. Richardson was a genius in design to have conceived of the house so quickly that fit the constraints of the lot and streets. All the other contemporary houses on the street had large windows facing the street and its noise, but this house faced a courtyard and garden. Also the furnishings express taste. I collect arts and crafts pottery and from the pictures they had some magnificent examples. Of course the tiles by De Morgan were of the highest marks as was the wall paper from William Morris. You can tell that it was a happy marriage too. Glad that the house was preserved.

[@paco7992]

This house deserved the extra time you gave it. Thank you for keeping history alive. The "modern day equivalent " prices always makes me laugh!

[@kimberlyearly8918]

I love knowing what the modern day equivalent is.

[@paco7992]

@@kimberlyearly8918 as do I but even if there were people alive today that could do the stonework or the finish carpentry, there is no way to even source the material. And even if you could parts and labor would make this house more like twenty million not three and a half. I don't even think there is an Architect alive with a deft pen creative enough to design on this level. I love the comparison too it makes me giggle every time! 😄 thank you for being a fan of history! Cheers!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

I love it when I get to the end of the video and find out that “This House” was not bulldozed!

[@vickilindberg6336]

I like these people. They treated their children really well. Very respectful.

[@jamesslick4790]

Yeah, they seemed decent and very different from what we expect from the "Robber Baron" era. And for the size of the house, it seems "modest", not overdone like most oƒ the era.

[@calendarpage]

I looked at the house on Google maps and was surprised to find that you can 'walk' through some of the rooms. It's great to see them in color and you get a real feel for what it might have been like to live there, or at least to take the tour if you can't get to Chicago. There's a blue tile surround on one of the fireplaces that is just gorgeous.

[@brandyjean7015]

Those William de Morgan tiles are amazing.

[@jamesdalton3082]

I agree the Glessner house is one of the most important examples of American architecture. I don't consider it, however, an example of the "Gilded Age" home. Glessner house was built with the mindset of the English Arts and Crafts movement. Typical Gilded Age houses embraced conspicuous consumption to the nth degree. The Arts and Crafts ideal was that even utilitarian objects could be handcrafted and show the true beauty of the item as well as the material of which it was constructed. Not only could one have beautiful paintings and tapestries in one's house, but the coal scuttle and hearth broom could be objects of beauty as well. Very different ways of looking at life.

[@ganymededarling]

Touring this home was the highlight of our trip to Chicago this year. Beautiful place!

[@christopherkraft1327]

What a grand old home!!! I'm glad that it exists today in all of it's glory!!! 👍👍🙂

[@curiousworld7912]

I love Richardsonian Romanesque, and this is a magnificent example of Richardson's art. The addition of William Morris wallpaper and other fine details, make this a truly marvelous house. I'm so glad it was saved - so much architecture is lost in the US, as we tend to always want 'new'. I had heard of the daughter's forensic interests and achievements, but I hadn't connected her with this house. I've seen pictures of it in books on late 19th - early 20th century domestic architecture, and have long admired it. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@Donald_Shaw]

What a treasure of a home. Thanks so much Ken for showing us pictures of the Glessner home.

[@chucklambooy8457]

While living in Chicago I was fortunate enough to see this amazing building. Seeing the photography again was a treat

[@sprague49]

Chicago truly was a crucible of amazing and groundbreaking houses that define American domestic architecture. In the future, I hope to see a feature on Pleasant Home, the John Farson house of 1897, an early Prairie Style example designed by George Washington Maher. Thankfully, it too still exists and is open to the public.

[@JosephStJames2000]

Your attention to detail is amazing. 😀‼️

[@h.a.harris7423]

Thanks for making this video, H H Richardson is one of my favorite architects. The William Morris prints and de Morgan tiles were a rare treat; I'm a great fan of both artists.

[@BelindaMuller]

Thank you for creating this wonderful channel. I live in Australia where English and the colonisation - or colonazition 😉 - of Australia was covered in our history lessons at school, but very little on American history. Your channel not only fascinates me daily from an architectural design perspective, but regularly exposes historical American figures I knew little or nothing about - thus expanding my knowledge further as I research these individuals. They often connect to other historical figures I do know of which is exciting. My only frustration is that in cases where the houses you feature are still in existence, even kept or restored to the original design and open for viewing, most of the content shown is black and white photographs. It would be sensational to see these rooms in living colour and even side by side shots of now vs. then. I know your channel is young, and has come a very long way in its short time on KZbin. The amount of content you produce must require more hours of research than I can comprehend, so I was wondering - is it a funding issue that prevents visiting the sites today? Is it greater numbers of members you need to fund the extra help, travel expenses, meet set deadlines to enhance content that you have otherwise obviously well researched and released with passion? Edit* This is not meant to be a criticism at all, but rather asking if you need specific assistance in order to meet growing interests and requests from your followers?

[@rebeccablakey2637]

The architect who designed this home did an amazing job. So beautiful. Wow this home is one of a kind .So many amazing memories and hopes locked in this homes walls .

[@joecesa1013]

A truly happy ending for the house and future generations; boy did I need it today :). Thanks.

[@LJB103]

When I first toured the home, I said that the granite looked like Milford (my hometown) pink. The tour guide said "No it's from Braggsville, MA." My reply was that's like saying the Cubs don't play in Chicago; they play in Wrigleyville. When the house was built, even with all those windows on one side, there was lots of privacy due to the windowless wall of the tall house next door. George Pullman (his mansion was diagonally across the intersection - the large new apartment building towering over the Glessner home in the last photo of the courtyard was where Pullman's mansion was located) hated the house. Excellent video.

[@joeseeking3572]

Much more impressive inside than out - with good guides even though it was a fairly full tour when I was there. Mean to go back sometime. The whole of Prairie Avenue is fascinating - there's an old out of print book that takes you back to the days when that street truly meant something.

[@mileshigh1321]

Amazing architecture! Toronto Old City Hall built in 1899, by Edward James Lennox, was done in the Richardsonian Romanesque style ! That is why Glessner House looked so familiar to me!

[@johnhaxby306]

I'm sad I missed this house when I was in Chicago last year. I did the Frank Lloyd Wright house tour and walked around looking at houses in that Oak Park neighborhood but didn't know about this. oh well, next time.

[@janeanf123]

Always impressed with the work Francis- a hero in forensics.

[@fedupamerican296]

Thanks Ken. This place is incredible.

[@nonadeplume1145]

I believe this is my favorite house you've covered! I love how clever the architect was! The way he sperated public vs private spaces. OMG, the lady who made the tiny crimes grew up here!! What a cool family with a wonderful home.

[@alanblanes2876]

This is one of your most informative episodes yet, Ken.

[@lanaj1107]

I'm loving your channel! The architectural drawings really intrigue me and I enjoy pinching and zooming in on the details.

[@monkeygraborange]

Like many creative geniuses, Richardson is an anomaly to to the passive observer, but a passion to the engaged participant.

[@markwagner4909]

International Harvester is no longer in Springfield, and all has been bulldozed. One of the things of interest is the Westcott’s house (frank loyd wright’s) owner of the westcott automobile. The house was saved and restored to the original plans when possible as some of the features were not build as planned to save money, but build to spec in the remodel It’s an amazing place

[@FritsAbell]

This is amazing. You really, really need to come to Buffalo and learn about our grand homes.....including our Richardsonian's.

[@daddythomas1389]

Thank you for a very detailed video! I just learned about this fabulous house, and I'm very happy I did!! Truly spectacular! I enjoy very much your videos, keep up your great work, and thank you for adding to my general culture!

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Thank God this house was preserved.

[@francesgrumblatt3420]

The woodwork’ in this house is awesome!

[@Klaus_Heindendorfer]

Thanks for your hard work on this and all your videos. Can’t wait for the next one!

[@IcelanderUSer]

The quality of stonework on the outside is masterful. Whomever created it was brilliant.

[@jabbermocky4520]

The first thing I noticed was the courtyard. Reminds me of the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston. I love this series! Thanks for the well researched architectural histories.

[@Designarchi1]

So glad this house was saved.

[@charlesclager6808]

The outside looks like a fort or a prison. The inside however is beautiful.

[@maizie9454]

MY THOUGHT TOO

[@moonraker30]

The whole time I was growing up in Chicago never heard of this place

[@nevada531]

Visited it years ago, the interiors are spacious and the interior courtyard is breathtaking even today. ❤

[@jamesslick4790]

Pittsburgh has one of Richardson's most famous buildings, The Allegheny County Courthouse. It's also a "must see" (Unless you HAVE to go because....court. LOL). Richardson HIMSELF counted it as among his best work.

[@peterscocca3024]

Blessed to have visited castles, palaces, Grand château and amazing homes on 5 continents. Vizcaya is my favorite.

[@teresaschlomer8257]

I live in Chicago and this is just one of my many favorite beautiful homes!! And there's plenty of themto be seen!!!!!

[@chrisbohnert7573]

I loved this. Thank you. I tried to become a supporter but it’s not allowed from Mexico, where I live. Sorry. I’ll try again, next time I’m in the states. Seeing this and the I H connection I thought of Viscaya and the John Deere palazzo in Coral Gables or Miami or anyway…down in Florida. Might be another cool this house episode. I really enjoy your productions.

[@michaeldy3157]

Beautiful and perserved !

[@RedcoatsReturn]

Its great for Chicago to have the house open to the public and visitors 😊👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😊 Its magnificent history and quality that everybody can admire and appreciate 👍👍 Thank you for this great research and so expertly narrated too! 😊😊

[@Shelly-mz9yf]

A beautiful part of historic architecture... 😀

[@leelangstaff2034]

As a Glessner descendent I especially appreciate this episode - thank you for including Glessner House in your series!

[@HermicraftAddict]

This has to be the most beautiful house shared yet. It's beautiful but also welcoming. This family is wonderful, too. The parents love and respect each other, which was rare then. And the daughter being a founder of forensic science is so cool.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Nice to see it's so well preserved! a gorgeous house indeed!

[@jimbaker9616]

If you ever make it to Asheville, NC, be sure to tour the Biltmore Estate, former home to George and Edith Vanderbilt. It is the largest, privately-owned house in America, and it is amazing.

[@birdsndog5932]

Thank you for all the interior pictures! So lovely.

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

now on my list of must see.

[@jamesdalton3082]

Well worth a trip to see it.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

THANKFULLY, the work is preserved for now.

[@sheissunshine]

I have had the pleasure of touring this home... a definite must do if they still give tours.

[@bettymunguia2136]

So happy another magnificent house wasn't destroyed 😊😊

[@sashaconrad3939]

I’m so glad this house survived!!! I hope I can visit it someday. ❤

[@mikenixon2401]

Well, now I know the man behind that International Harvester tractor I used to drive. My house was more modest. Good report, Ken.

[@vilstef6988]

I watched this video with joy and delight! My underlying thought was it would be a crime if this amazing edifice had been razed! More delight when I found it still stands! I had not heard of Glessner House before seeing this video! I commend the channel for their educational efforts!

[@rustybearden1800]

As stated by many comments before mine, I'm passionate about great architecture, American examples in particular, and I've learned so much from your channel but this is new to me. What a wonderful, low key, elegant, magnificent home. It looks like someone lived there as opposed to some houses that are so grand they resemble museums or showrooms. Very cozy and comfortable despite it's immense size. Thanks for a marvelous post (as usual)

[@choryferguson2196]

What a fun place I can actually visit in my new city! Thank you for this revelation!

[@kimberlyearly8918]

I wish there were color photos from back then. The rooms always look so dark in black and white. I don't know how you even find the black and white ones though. I'm so glad it didn't get bulldozed!

[@LaurenceDay-d2p]

So glad this splendid old house has not been turned into a parking lot, like so many others.

[@elainebmack]

I highly recommend a tour of Glessner House to everyone. It's really a remarkable place. There is a legend that the spirit of architect H.H. Richardson still "visits" on occasion!

[@bascott2010]

Thanks for mentioning Springfield, Ohio.

[@joniallen6880]

A wonderful house built by wonderful people!

[@jared1870]

I think this is my favorite of all of your videos I have seen to this point. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[@ranisrikumar5735]

Awesome 🎉 !Bedroom of their only daughter, elegant 😊

[@ciroalb3]

I was at the first public opening of the House in the 60s, remember Hasbrouck and Richard Wade in attendance

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Impressive pile. Thank you for sharing

[@ScottAJacob]

One of your best episodes yet Ken!! Bravo! I've been to this remarkable house several times, each time seeing and learning something new. You've done a great job highlighting some of it's best features and most interesting bits of related history. Thanks for sharing the historical interior photos as well as some of them are rarely shown. Keep up the great work highlighting our rich architectural history, both lost and extant. It is through our architecture that our nation's personality shines.

[@teresaschlomer8257]

Great house Ken,Thank you so much!!!

[@ancac4362]

Lovely video!

[@andrewschneider4466]

The house is right down the street from me. They do courtyard events and having it is really a benefit to the community. So glad they saved it.

[@sachemrock]

H.H. Richardson was contracted by many wealthy families of the 19th century to design there impressive homes. In my home state of MA the Ames family utilized Richardson in the creation of their homes and public buildings in North Easton, MA. I recognized Ames Memorial Hall in your video showing examples of his designs. I believe this town has 5 buildings designed by Richardson and commissioned by the Ames family including the gatehouse to Langewater estate, the last surviving home still occupied by the descendants of the Ames family and forever protected by its inclusion on the national register of historic places. Thank you Ken for spotlighting this architect and the Glessner home in Chicago as an example of his work.

[@rivertrees4733]

Beautiful! Thank you very much!

[@JodysJourney]

Oh wow. I’ve read a book about Glessner-Lee. Forensics fascinates me. Cool to see where she grew up.

[@steveboussom6564]

Thank you Ken. I love history and you make it come alive with your preparation and enthusiasm.

[@TeachinTV]

Interesting video. International Harvester was a gigantic company I grew up knowing about but I'd never heard of Glessner. Of course I'd learned about Cyrus McCormick but to me, the stars of the company were the Deering Brothers, James and William. They both developed magnificent homes on the shores of my Miami's Biscayne Bay. One of them became a celebrated Italianate palazzo, Villa Viscaya, site of a meeting between Ronald Reagan and the Pope. Thanks for bringing the Glessner Family to my attention.

[@holidayfellow6407]

I don't think I've ever seen a house as unique as this, it's beautiful

[@tonih4887]

I grew up in Cleveland Ohio. The original John D. Rockefeller summer house was built on a hillside in East Cleveland, Cleveland Heights Ohio. The house caught on fire and burned down to the ground. The location is now a park. The hill is now a common site used for sleigh riding in the winter. An old horse stable remained abandoned for decades until the 80’s before it was demolished. Remembered finding an old piece of china buried in the ground at the old house location.

[@davidward805]

Another wonderful video! Thanks!

[@edcomedian357]

Friends of mine held their wedding reception there

[@janusquiamco7128]

This really seems to be a house made for a sensible, unpretentious couple who valued craftsmanship and functionality over grandeur. I‘m glad the house survives intact to this day.

[@user-xd3du4im4i]

I love your videos a lot! I have to make just one comment, though. Just after minute one, you say of Frances…”she wasn’t just beautiful…..” …..cut to a very unflattering picture of her…made me laugh out loud. That’s all, please keep up the good work!

[@dumbestoyster]

Jesus! Beauty back in the day was definitely in the eye of the beholder...

[@proudvirginian]

I guess I'll take the unpopular opinion on this one. While the house is beautiful on the inside, it seems like a small prison on the outside. Looks more suitable for inmates than a wealthy resident. Perhaps a fortress is a better view of it, but that still doesn't invoke beauty to me. Love the video nonetheless and I AM glad Richardson and the Glessners thought outside the box and built it. I DO like that it's not run of the mill guilded age. And I'm glad it still stands.

[@StevenTorrey]

Glad it was saved. The trouble with these kinds of places is that their upkeep--maintenance, staff for maintenance, taxes, land valuation--made them all terribly prohibitive for upkeep. The land was more valuable than the house and so they ended up being demolished.

[@beachormond]

beautiful building

[@badbiker666]

For once we have the story of a family that built a house to suit their social status but didn't require such a humongous staff that they were forced to abandon it when their financial situation waned. I got a troubled feeling in the pit of my stomach when Ken started talking about problems during the Great Depression, though. I am so happy to learn that I can still tour this house today. I never will, but it's nice to know that I could.

[@ciaranburke3243]

Beautiful place 👌

[@francesgrumblatt3420]

Magnificent reception hall

[@janedee6488]

Wonderful video. Would love to visit.

[@cassandraralph5906]

Very interesting! The internal design, decor and colors are very much my style. Also it was designed to be a people and pet friendly home. No fancy or elaborate stuff.

[@nancywysemen7196]

sounds like a happy enuf family. a glamorous house,yes,but interesting inhabitants too...

[@kendranewton9071]

Love that library.