Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago, Illinois
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Chicago Cultural Center
Formerly:Chicago Public Library
Formerly:Dearborn Park
78 East Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602 United States
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Today a repository of cultural information, its form gives away its original purpose -- a repository of knowledge. This was the first permanent home of the Chicago Public Library. Its stately columns give away its municipal heritage, while its large windows show that light infiltration was of paramount importance. Those first books that filled its stacks after the Great Fire were donations from Britain, and were an important symbol of the global outpouring of sympathy and support, which followed the destruction. Just as the start of work on the library in 1871 symbolized new life in Chicago, the building, itself, was given a new life in 1991. That's when the city's new public library, The Harold Washington Library center, opened, freeing this building to evolve for use in its current mission.

Sponsored by: Chicago Spire Condo Information
Quick Facts
  • Construction end: 1897
  • Designed by: Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge
  • Type: Museum
  • Stories: 3
Look For
    »Tiffany glass domes in the north and south ends of the building, as well as other mosaics by the Tiffany studios.
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Your Thoughts

There is one comment.

  The building on the inside is very much so beautiful! yet the staff there is very rude, but they cant take away the charm of the old library!!!

kirby - Thursday, December 7th, 2006 @ 8:51pm  

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