Nickerson House

The Nickerson House is an art museum housed in a mansion on Chicago's Near North Side built in 1883. The interior showcases 17 different marble varieties alongside onyx, alabaster, and carved wood throughout spacious rooms designed to impress.

Banker Samuel Nickerson built the house in 1883 and made it one of Chicago's early fireproof structures following the city's devastating fire of 1871. The American College of Surgeons took over the property in 1916 and added a classical auditorium wing.

The house displays how Chicago's wealthy families lived during the Gilded Age through original furnishings and decorative choices. Visitors can observe the artistic tastes and collecting habits that shaped the home's interior aesthetic.

The museum is located on East Erie Street and offers guided tours that explain the architectural details and display original furnishings from the period. Plan enough time to see the extensive collections and ornate decoration throughout the different rooms.

The building was designed as one of the first fireproof structures in Chicago, incorporating new safety materials and methods to prevent fire damage. This innovation influenced how future buildings in the city were designed and constructed.