John J. Glessner House, Romanesque Revival residence in Prairie Avenue Historic District, Chicago, United States.
The John J. Glessner House is a residence in Chicago's Prairie Avenue Historic District featuring granite exterior walls arranged in an L-shaped form with minimal ornamentation. A protected interior courtyard facing south serves as a central feature of the architectural design.
The house was designed in 1887 by Henry Hobson Richardson for John Glessner, a successful farm machinery manufacturer who later joined International Harvester. It was built during a period when Chicago was establishing itself as a major industrial center and wealthy business owners built large homes to demonstrate their status.
The house displays original furnishings and decorative objects reflecting the Glessner family's appreciation for English and American arts and crafts movements. You can see how a wealthy household at the end of the 1800s chose and arranged their possessions with care for quality design.
The residence is located on South Prairie Avenue and is accessible through guided tours that explore both the architectural features and the family's history. Visitors should be prepared to navigate a fully furnished interior that illustrates how life unfolded within these walls.
Frances Glessner Lee, who grew up in this house, created detailed miniature crime scene models that revolutionized forensic investigation training. These models are still used in forensic education today, representing an unexpected legacy connected to this home.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
Soldier Field
655 m
Field Museum of Natural History
1 km
Northerly Island
1.1 km
NEMA Chicago
1.1 km
Statue of Christopher Columbus
1.2 km
Balbo Monument
756 m
Henry B. Clarke House
90 m
St. Luke's Hospital
629 m
One Museum Park
1.1 km
The 78
1.2 km
Ping Tom Memorial Park
1.1 km
Sky Ride
872 m
Pui Tak Center
1.1 km
Motor Row District
587 m
R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. Calumet Plant
510 m
Second Presbyterian Church
344 m
St. Charles Air Line Bridge
1.2 km
William W. Kimball House
133 m
Coca-Cola Building
923 m
Harriet F. Rees House
413 m
Wheeler-Kohn House
319 m
Maxwell-Briscoe Automobile Company Showroom
341 m
Reid House
271 m
NEMA
1.1 km
One Museum Park West
1.1 km
Clarke-Ford House
94 m
Chicago Public Library Chinatown Branch
1 km
The Platt Luggage Company Building
574 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes