The John J. Glessner House, operated as the Glessner House, is an architecturally important 19th-century residence located at 1800 S. Prairie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Built during the Gilded Age, it was designed in 1885–1886 by architect Henry Hobson Richardson and completed in late 1887. The property was designated a Chicago Landmark on October 14, 1970. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 17, 1970, and as a National Historic Landmark on January 7, 1976, and is maintained as a house museum.
Aerial view of the Glessner House
Glessner House in 1887, as construction was being completed. Original photo from Cornell University Library.
Glessner House, 18th Street facade, from HABS. Photo: 1963.
Prairie Avenue is a north–south street on the South Side of Chicago, which historically extended from 16th Street in the Near South Side to the city's southern limits and beyond. The street has a rich history from its origins as a major trail for horseback riders and carriages. During the last three decades of the 19th century, a six-block section of the street served as the residence of many of Chicago's elite families and an additional four-block section was also known for grand homes. The upper six-block section includes part of the historic Prairie Avenue District, which was declared a Chicago Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The National Historic Landmark John J. Glessner House at 1800 South Prairie Avenue
Old Otis home at 1709 Prairie
George Pullman residence: 1729 S. Prairie Ave. (c. 1900)
Interior of Pullman Residence (1922)