Palmer Mansion, Private residence in Near North Side, Chicago, United States.
Palmer Mansion was a private residence in Chicago's Near North Side, notable for its elaborate design featuring turrets and a grand central hall beneath a glass dome. The three-story building contained a dramatic spiral staircase that dominated the interior layout.
The mansion was built between 1882 and 1885 by architects Henry Ives Cobb and Charles Sumner Frost for wealthy businessman Potter Palmer and his wife Bertha. Its construction marked the beginning of the Gold Coast neighborhood's development as a prestigious residential area in Chicago.
The residence was known for its specialized rooms featuring different historical styles, including a Louis XVI-style salon, spaces with Oriental influences, and a library displaying artworks by Monet and Degas. This collection displayed the family's wealth and artistic taste, shaping how luxury was understood in Chicago.
The building originally stood at 1350 North Lake Shore Drive and was visible from the street until its demolition in 1950. Visitors to the area today can explore the history and significance of the site through the neighborhood's development and remaining architecture nearby.
The initial construction budget started at roughly 90,000 dollars but ballooned to over one million dollars during the five-year building period, reflecting the project's ambitious scope. This dramatic cost increase made the endeavor a landmark example of the extravagance that defined wealthy Chicago's late 19th century.
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