Chicago Cultural Center

The Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E Washington Street, on the western edge of Millennium Park in the Loop of Chicago, Illinois, opened in 1897 as the city's central public library and Grand Army of the Republic memorial hall. Designed by the Boston firm Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge in the Beaux-Arts style, it was part of the era of civic building that followed the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and its interiors were meant to show that a library could be a palace for the public. The library moved to a new building in the 1990s, and the structure has served as the city's free cultural venue since 1977, with exhibitions, concerts, films, lectures and the city's official visitor information. The building preserves rich interiors. The north dome over Preston Bradley Hall is a Tiffany stained-glass dome about 38 feet in diameter, composed of tens of thousands of pieces of glass and often described as among the largest of its kind. Marble staircases, mosaics of colored glass, mother-of-pearl and stone, quotations from literature and polished marbles from several countries decorate the stairways and halls. A second dome and memorial hall on the south side honor Civil War veterans. The architectural character is classical, with a limestone exterior in Greek and Roman forms. The center is operated by the City of Chicago as a free venue, with rotating exhibitions that change throughout the year rather than a single permanent narrative; free weekday lunchtime classical concerts are a long-running tradition. The building was restored over several campaigns to repair stonework, glass and mosaics, and it remains in good condition. Admission is free, and the center is typically open daily during daytime hours. Visitors can see the highlights in about 45 minutes, though those attending an exhibition or concert will spend longer. The Art Institute, Millennium Park and the Auditorium Building are all within a short walk.