Bahá'í House of Worship for the North American Continent, Religious temple in Wilmette, United States
The Baháʼí House of Worship for the North American Continent is a religious building in Wilmette, a suburb of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan. The dome rises above a large prayer hall with no pews or altars, lit from all sides through delicate concrete panels with openwork patterns.
Groundbreaking took place in 1921, but work stalled several times because of economic difficulties in the 1930s and again during the second world war. The building was finally dedicated in 1953 and later added to the national register.
The number nine appears throughout the temple: nine entrances, nine fountains in the gardens, and nine arches at the base of the dome, a number representing completeness in the Baháʼí faith. People of all faiths come here to pray in silence or gather in the open devotional spaces today.
Admission is free and tours are offered regularly, allowing visitors to see the interior and gardens at their own pace. Guests are asked to speak softly and respect the quiet atmosphere, since the space is used for prayer and meditation.
During the war, pilots from the nearby Glenview Naval Air Station used the distinctive building as a landmark over Lake Michigan, calling it Point Oboe in radio communication. The dome was easy to spot from high altitude in clear weather and helped aircraft approaching the shore.
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