What Happened to the Potter Palmer Mansion in Chicago?

[@mikehughes4969]

I'm from Chicago, and it was a big deal when I was younger to go Easter brunch at the Palmer House. And every Christmas, we went to see the windows at Marshall Fields. It was tradition.

[@cynthiajohnston424]

Yes , a very special part of my childhood memories as well .

[@throttleblip1]

Now it's like a ghost town because of need less crime and the kneeling to BLM and the other bs movements. Retailers can not keep up with theft and it's only from one group

[@wessebaggers]

I love these homes ❤

[@tt8807]

Yup me too! My mom saved up forever to take her and I out to lunch for my xmas time bday at the Walnut room. It was such a magical time and I’ll never forget it.💜

[@Allastrology]

​@@tt8807yup! The Walnut room, a get a table next to the tree🎄

[@jport74]

My parents are from Chicago and both remember this house. My father's great grandfather Adolph Herbig, who was an Austrian immigrant, was one of the cabinet makers/wood carvers who was hired to help build this house. He even carved the famous lion heads at the top of the stairs. You can see one of them in this video at the 6:37 mark. My uncle gave me his old carving tools, now over 100 years old, the very same ones he used in the Palmer house. Very fascinating history and video, thanks.

[@andreasmorgen7575]

You're so fortunate to have that connection & history!

[@mileshigh1321]

The detail and woodwork in that house was amazing! The one fireplace mantle with the statues...I hope that was saved! The amount of work put into these places, only to have it destroyed a short time later is tragic!

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Absolutely breaks my heart to hear that gorgeous mansion was demolished!!!

[@lauriehall1249]

I wish I could have climbed that tower. What a marvelous home. Too bad it was not endowed to become a museum.

[@catherineshetty2365]

So sad they destroyed such a beautiful home and a wonderful link to the past 😢

[@EarthResearch]

Destroyed to keep the true history of the construction hidden.

[@rpullman]

Five stars. I was born and raised in New York City and also lived 2005-2023 in Chicago. Both are great cities to explore, with rich histories.

[@clairwaucaush7225]

They should have made their mansion the art museum. People like that shaped the world WE live in , yet their hoses torn down and forgotten.

[@Libertaro-i2u]

Well, maybe the land in such a prime location.

[@rosepelzel4244]

For modern high rises??? Sooooo sad! One would think that it would've been preserved for all of the good that he did for the city!!

[@Libertaro-i2u]

The price of progress maybe.

[@mikenixon2401]

Wow. What a shot of the Palmer House. I had heard about it and thought of them, "Some people have more money than common sense." That said I have to give Potter and Bertha credit for their business savvy. Another good report, Ken.

[@aspensulphate]

Should probably refer to it as the Palmer Mansion, to avoid confusion with The Palmer House, a hotel.

[@nelsongrimaldi3926]

Speechless, too many arcjitectural masterpieces gone in america, extremely sad

[@atomicwedgie8176]

I'm glad they tore it down. Most people don't realize it could only be saved with taxpayer money. The people whining about saving these historical buildings need to step up to the pate with their own checkbooks!!!!!

[@jimwiskus8862]

Agreed, we’ve gone from the gilded age to the concrete age. Those who tore this masterpiece down had 0 vision.

[@Libertaro-i2u]

Trouble is that the only way to pay for the upkeep of these historic mansions is to use them as museums or hotels. Plus, this particular mansion was on prime land.

[@garryferrington811]

The good thing is, it wasn't replaced with anything memorable.

[@utahdan231]

@@atomicwedgie8176yeah. And that could be very bad for society and future tourism. Better to spend taxpayers money on hand outs.

[@tt8807]

About 10 yrs ago I was working a McCormick show, my company had me up in the penthouse of the Palmer-house hotel. There was construction at the time so I took it upon myself to wander. I think I found an attic area bc there was nothing but beautiful old everything! Lamps, tea tables and sitting chairs. All covered in tons of dust and cobwebs. I was too in awe to be terrified that I was alone in a dark, clearly unused part of a historic hotel! Why do we abuse history?

[@stevenkaskus6173]

What a sad shame, this was actually visually pleasing to look at with all the alternating brick work designs and the spiral look going up the turret . This was a master piece of architecture and then the stunning Craftsmanship on the interior with all the beautiful carved wood work and the stair case railing by itself was priceless. The marble fireplace surrounds a pillars. Saying it's too bad it wasn't saved is not even strong enough to let one know the deep loss from this beauty being demolished for apartments.

[@2FeCarbon]

Hey, Ken... Your channel is coming along good... Thanks for the facts!

[@markgordon5387]

My grandmother's great-grandmother and grandmother lived in Chicago from early-1860. They knew it all.

[@joycemiller-bean1814]

Nicely informative and excellently narrated. In this brief video you combined an overview of a major element of Chicago history with a visual tour of the Palmer’s opulent mansion AND mini-biographies of Potter and Bertha respectively. Well done you👍🏾

[@jefflawrentz1624]

I read that Mrs Jack Gardner (Boston) visited and Mrs Palmer showed her their gold table service for 50. Mrs Jack then asked “ But what do you do when you have a large dinner party?”

[@DJ-nh6wq]

I love old Victorian snark! That’s why I like watching The Gilded Age on HBO. 😊

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Wonderful video, Ken, as always. My family has strong Chicago connections and it was great to learn about that wonderful couple who did so much for the city. Along with houses, I like ocean liners and, if my memory is right, Mrs. Palmer sailed on the maiden voyage of the Lusitania and reported her experiences sailing on the Cunarder. I believe it was Mrs. Palmer who made the interesting observation that the Lusitania appeared to have one deck too, many comparing it to an hotel that's one floor to tall.

[@StamperWendy]

1 million in 1870 is worth 24 million in 2024. Thanks, Ken!

[@lucasrem]

why you say that ?

[@papi7827]

It's really sad that these great architectural master pieces were destroyed in the name of progress. When these houses were built it truly was the golden age of America.

[@jpr1370]

What I got from The House is - The USA is lousy at preserving our National Heritage.

[@Emily_Paris]

You said it! It’s very disheartening.

[@garryferrington811]

It's why people vacation outside the US.

[@79Bobola]

Sad but true

[@leahtreck1083]

Aloha, how could anyone demolish that piece of history? It was gorgeous😢.

[@lucasrem]

jpr1370 You should buy old real estate, keep it, restore it. most people never need that, restoring it takes time....

[@ghost.ranger1628]

If that house was still standing and had tours I would go to Chicago just to see that house.

[@ghost.ranger1628]

Could you imagine how much it would cost to rebuild that house !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lucasrem]

ghost.ranger1628 Why should you restore it, to sell gohs stories ?? MAD only original please !

[@ghost.ranger1628]

@@lucasrem No ghost stories but I would love to live in a house like that and know many other people that would live there but the price of industry/real estate takes over and they made way for business.The only mansions that still stand from that era seem to be away from the big cities. Just look at the beautiful woodwork on the walls, windows, fireplaces and the staircases. NO ONE I mean no one builds houses like that now because the price would be astronomical.

[@andreasmorgen7575]

​@@ghost.ranger1628there are still several mansions on Prairie Avenue in Chicago that were built by rich chicagoans.....if you haven't seen them you must the Glessnor House Museum.

[@ghostofnoface1546]

What a shame to tear down another lost in history to be replaced by a box. Thanks for sharing

[@elephantintheroom5678]

What a wonderful exterior to this mansion. The interior is not cohesive, though, and has a cobbled together look. I love seeing these old buildings, but I get so disappointed when you almost invariably say they were demolished 😔.

[@davidpalmer9334]

I’m a distant relative ..my dad has a hanger from the Palmer Hotel lol. What a shame to have lost such a home

[@johnvonundzu2170]

The Palmers certainly had a liking for busts and urns perched on tall freestanding columns. Would have made me nervous. The house was too much for me, but they certainly knew how to pick fine art. Their final address, their mausoleum, is magnificent.

[@johnkeviljr9625]

The Palmers were definitely a force for Chicago. Too bad the mansion did not survive.

[@KRW628]

I was a small child in the 50s in Chicago. I never knew the Palmer mansion even existed. My father worked in the Palmer House Hotel on State Street. Same guy.

[@andreaberryhill6654]

Absolutely incredible!

[@plantguy3346]

I'm gonna say it's either a parking lot, or they turned it into the most disgusting f****** condos ever

[@deborahseay5123]

Beautiful 🎉🎉 Thank you ❤

[@abialo2010]

wow the notification bell worked for a change

[@michaelcoonce6694]

Mantainence would bankrupted most people

[@twilightpurpleglow]

Good morning Ken. More than the homes/mansions/castles I love biography. The short version you give of each individual is fascinating. It is incredible that a man (Mr Palmer here) would meet and marry his match. Bertha was someone to be admired indeed. A home with 42 rooms (?) I wonder what was the reason behind it. And so the mansion was "demolished" imagine that pat of history gone. I wonder if their precious art collection are at the ART INSTITUTE? Sad Potter Palmer passed away in 1902, left Bertha a very wealthy woman. I admired she double the inheritance. Thank you for your interesting videos.

[@jamesstaal8466]

When did Chicago establish a landmarks preservation commission? Boston founded one in the 1860s, and NYC did so more than a century later in 1969. Were any of the interiors sold complete to museums or private residences? The eclecticism of this place was over the top. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. had an eclectic townhouse on West 54th Street, with each room having a different period theme or aesthetic, and some of the rooms are on display in museums today. It must have been quite the estate auction. It was very interesting learning where the core of the Art of Institute of Chicago came from.

[@timmyers9825]

Enjoyed new revelations, to me, about the Palmer's, as I have lived in Sarasota for 30+ yrs.I believe they owned 140,000 acres at one time in this area.Not only land but other business ventures in the area, especially cattle.Sarasota also , still has, The Field Club, a private club, on the bay and close to downtown, that was Marshall Field's Sarasota home, still there today.

[@jodirauth8847]

What a shame that home was torn down. If it had been built away from the lake, 10 miles or so, it would still be standing.

[@rugerroo3464]

Eclectic mix everwhere, looks to be estate sales etc... there is an old English influence. Perhaps she embroidered as many ladies did in that era , I can see it peppered throughout the home. Thanks for the history lesson!

[@alanmccabe5927]

How cool is that ‼️ Architectural significance 👍🏾

[@davidbrims5825]

I’m guessing, demolished and replaced by a Walmart….🥴

[@utahdan231]

No. It was replaced by 22floors brick ugly building with hundreds of apartments.

[@brickitect420]

About the ad....why was the big ben included in the video-ad about american victorian architecture tours? odd choice, lol

[@ThisHouse]

Victorian Society has a program in London as well.

[@davidpalmer9334]

The castle had no door knobs on the outside…you could only enter by being let in.

[@williamratcliff31]

They tore down that beautiful mansion to put up highrise who ever made that decision was a fool. That's so sad 😢😢

[@alanmccabe5927]

What demolition shame💭💭💭gone!!!

[@bethparker1500]

Did they salvage all the woodwork and moldings? Extreme and intense, difficult to dust. Hahaha

[@genghis_connie]

Wasn’t the Palmer House (Hotel) destroyed in the fire and rebuilt ENE from there almost to spec?

[@juliepeterson6639]

The immense amount of money and waste blows my mind. Too stunning to bulldoze down. So very sad.

[@rareflower72]

They should've kept the mansion and change rooms into condos

[@TreborRobinson]

Why are they always demolition historic mansions 😢

[@jill-ti7oe]

A dour pile.

[@bscottb8]

One can be sure it was never praised for tasteful restraint.

[@jill-ti7oe]

@@bscottb8 😄

[@Wallblue21]

is he related to cole palmer

[@nykichr]

Vocal fryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@danfobb8301]

too bad its gone

[@buttarichbuttasymphony]

*🦅+✓|*

[@BellaCroyda]

GREAT LOSS INDEED.

[@Randydaudt]

Wouldn't the Plmers be sickened by what Chicago has become?

[@davidf2477]

A beautiful, world class city?

[@Hope4all2]

@@davidf2477👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Great comeback. Love my Chicago.

[@davidmarks8318]

That is one fugly building