The Top 6 Gilded Age MANSIONS of Chicago (You Can Visit Today)

Picture walking through modern Chicago, surrounded by modern skyscrapers, when a Gilded Age mansion suddenly happens upon you. Believe it or not, rather than simply using your time in Chi-Town to visit Soldier Field or stock up on loading hot dogs - you can visit the homes we’re about to show today. -------------------------------- The TOP 7 Vanderbilt MANSIONS (You Can Visit Today):    • The TOP 7 Vanderbilt MANSIONS (You Can Vis...   -------------------------------- TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction 1:01 #1 The Kimball House 3:28 #2 The Nickerson Mansion 6:33 #3 The Glessner House 9:54 #4 The McCormick Mansion 12:46 #5 The Keith House 15:28 #6 The Ransom R. Cable House -------------------------------- Embark on a journey through Chicago’s Gilded Age with these six historic mansions, each offering a window into a world of architectural splendor and social influence. Our first stop is the Kimball House, a Victorian masterpiece set along Millionaires Row in Concord, New Hampshire. Built by Samuel Sparhawk Kimball between 1877 and 1882, it blends European-inspired turrets and arches with detailed brick and granite work, creating a chateau-like silhouette on manicured grounds. Inside, frescoed ceilings, stained glass windows, and intricate wood paneling set the stage for artistic immersion, while its transformation into the Kimball Jenkins School of Art now invites over 1,300 students to explore creative pursuits. Next, we arrive at the Nickerson Mansion in Chicago. Built in 1883 for banking magnate Samuel L. Nickerson, this "Marble Palace" showcases eight types of marble and a Tiffany glass dome, blending French Renaissance and Aesthetic Movement elements in a dazzling display of High Victorian Eclecticism. Preserved as the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, it offers visitors an immersive dive into the opulence of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring Nickerson-era furnishings, Art Nouveau works, and innovative architecture. The Glessner House, commissioned by John J. Glessner, awaits next on Prairie Avenue. Completed in 1887 by Henry Hobson Richardson, its Romanesque style merges fortress-like exteriors with warm, Arts and Crafts-inspired interiors. Rich wood paneling, brass fixtures, and custom furnishings transport visitors into the refined world of Chicago’s elite, while dynamic programming, from concerts to culinary demos, keeps this landmark culturally alive. The McCormick Mansion follows, bearing the legacy of Cyrus McCormick Jr. in its Beaux-Arts elegance. Towering columns, arched windows, and French neoclassical symmetry narrate the McCormicks' contributions to American agriculture. Today, it stands as an events venue, where modern gatherings add new layers to this Gilded Age marvel, offering visitors a glimpse of its rich architectural and historical significance. Next, we find the Keith House, a Prairie Avenue mansion inspired by the Loire Valley’s romantic châteaux. Commissioned by Elbridge G. Keith, this architectural gem combines soaring towers, stone carvings, and a sweeping staircase that create a balanced blend of grandeur and intimacy. Now an event venue, it retains its cultural legacy, merging the past and present within its storied walls. Finally, we explore the Ransom R. Cable House, a Queen Anne masterpiece crafted by Cobb and Frost in 1886 for railway baron Ransom Reed Cable. Its intricate brick-and-stone exterior, stained glass windows, and detailed woodwork showcase the era’s finest craftsmanship. Now headquarters for Drexel House Capital Management, the mansion harmonizes historic preservation with contemporary use, symbolizing Chicago’s evolving architectural heritage. Each mansion offers unique insight into Chicago’s Gilded Age, merging beauty, history, and innovation in a captivating experience.