The Chicago Cultural Center is truly the main attraction of the City of Chicago. It is a beautiful building housing the official reception of the city in which the Mayor has since ages welcomed the Presidents, diplomats, community leaders as well as royalty.

This building is surely a testament to foresight of the city's turn of cultural leadership in the 20th Century. Originally being the central library establishment, the Chicago Cultural Center was later converted into the culture and arts center at the very instigation of Lois Weisberg, the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs.

Being the country's very first free cultural center, this building is one among the most famous Chicago travel attractions along with being considered to be the most comprehensive arts showcases, United States.

Every year, this Chicago Cultural Center highlights over 1000 exhibitions as well as programs that cover a huge gamut of the visual, literary and performing arts. As per the popular Crain's Chicago Business, this Chicago travel and tourism attraction was the 5th most visited institution in the city in 2007, welcoming around 821,000 guests.

The beautiful building of the Chicago Cultural Center was specially designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, the architectural firm from Boston for this city's Grand Army of the Republic Museum and central library. The construction was completed in the year 1897 at the expense of about $2 million and was then organized as the 4 story north wing, 104 feet tall and 5 story south wings with 3 foot thickness on the granite base.

The structure was also designed in a usually neoclassical style along with the Romanesque revival factors. The Chicago Cultural Center is creatively capped with the 2 stained glass domes that are set symmetrically on top of the 2 wings. The domes of the building are considered to be the largest Tiffany dome in the entire world and are also valued at the estimated amount of $35 millions.

The structure of the building also includes the 3 foot thick stonework walls faced with the Bedford limestone. Splendid materials that are used in the very interior style of the Chicago Cultural Center consist of the imported marble, stained glass, polished brass, fine hardwood, mosaics of the Favrile glass, mother of pearl and colored stone.

Even the Randolph Cafe serves as a great gathering space in which a large number of patrons can take pleasure in the teas, baked goods, juices, cappuccino and the scheduled pop, cabaret style, blues, folk and jazz performances.

Chicago Cultural Center Address
78 E. Washington St.,
Chicago, IL 60602

Contact:
Tel: (312) 744-6630
Email: culture@cityofchicago.org

Chicago Cultural Center Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. -6 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. -6 p.m.
Closed Holidays

Ticket Information for Chicago Cultural Center: Free

Website: http://www.explorechicago.org