Organizational History

Glessner House was designed by Boston architect Henry Hobson Richardson and completed in 1887 at 1800 S. Prairie Avenue. The street, once known as "millionaires' row" declined in the early 1900s as a residential area due to its proximity to the growing downtown and the push of the printing, publishing and automibile industries into the area. By 1965, Glessner House was scheduled for demolition. Acknowledging the historic importance of the building's architecture, a group of concerned architects and colleagues joined forces and incorporated as the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation (CSAF) in 1966, purchased the Glessner House, and saved it from demolition. In 1971, the organization launched the first docent program of its kind and began to give architectural tours of Glessner House and Chicago's "Loop."

In 1976 Glessner House was designated a National Historic Landmark and in 1977 the CSAF changed its name to Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) and began restoring the Glessner House.

The Prairie Avenue Historic District, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and was designated a City of Chicago Landmark District in 1979. The development of the four acre park (most of which had been empty lots), and improvements to the streetscape along Prairie Avenue were made by the City of Chicago through cooperative efforts with the CAF.

In 1977, the Henry and Caroline Clarke House, Chicago's oldest house, was moved to its location on Indiana Avenue as an additional anchor for the Prairie Avenue Historic District. The building was restored by the City of Chicago and opened as the Clarke House Museum in 1982, with period furnishings provided by the National Society of Colonial Dames in America in the State of Illinois.

In 1994, the Chicago Architecture Foundation Board of Trustees voted to spin off all historic property operations. Prairie Avenue House Museums was incorporated to own and operate the Glessner House and to manage tours of the Clarke House on behalf of the City of Chicago, assuming this responsibility from the CAF.  In 1998, the name of the organization was changed to Glessner House Museum.