Independence Day at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago was remembered as “the greatest Fourth of July celebration in the nation’s history.” A record crowd filled Jackson Park to hear patriotic speeches and music, honor two Liberty Bells, see the Declaration of Independence, and watch a parade of nations march down the Midway Plaisance. At night, the Ferris Wheel was set on fire and an astounding fireworks show decorated the skies above the White City. 

The presentation will be given by Scott Cummings, an independent researcher who publishes worldsfairchicago1893.com, an educational website devoted to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

Squirm in your seats as actors from Lifeline Theatre present readings of Poe's terrifying stories and poetry. Hear classics like The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart, as well as some of Poe's lesser known works. This is an extremely popular event and people return year after year, so don't wait, tickets sell out fast!

Tales of strange sounds, unexplained sightings, and untimely endings await as you explore Prairie Avenue after dark! During this 60 minute walking tour through the Prairie Avenue Historic District, learn about the mystery surrounding the death of Marshall Field Jr., the tragic events that plagued the Philander Hanford house, the lingering ghost of Edson Keith, and more - if you dare! Advance ticket required.

"Avant-Garde in the Alley" pulls back the curtain on the creative art and theater scene of the bohemian enclave of Towertown. The Near North Side neighborhood served as a laboratory for performance art, modernist sensibilities, and counterculture during the 1920s. Presented by Zac Bleicher, Executive Director of Edgar Miller Legacy, this talk will explore how Chicago’s Interwar art scene became a melting pot of interdisciplinary creativity, where radical thought was openly championed– and challenged– on soapboxes in park squares, in local homes and salons, and in back-alley theatres.

The city's performing arts spaces allowed creative professionals to experiment with small-scale, avant-garde aesthetics that would define a uniquely American modernism. Approached through the perspective of renowned Chicago artist Edgar Miller and the avant-garde performances presented in spaces like the Dil Pickle Club, this talk will highlight how Chicago artists of the Twenties brought new ideas to life, first on the stage and then out into a modernizing urban environment.

Learn how Edgar Miller’s art, the work of other artists, non-traditional staging and set designs, and avant-garde literature merged to establish Chicago as a central site for American modernism. Several original pieces of Miller’s art will be on display.

This talk is being presented in conjunction with a staged reading of “Dear Rhoda” at Glessner House on Monday, November 16, performed by The Shakespeare Project of Chicago, which takes place in the Towertown scene of the Roaring Twenties.

A timeless love story for today!

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago comes to Glessner House for one night only, to present a theatrical reading, with music, of the play Dear Rhoda, by David Ranney and Donna Russell, adapted by Peter Garino.

In the vibrant chaos of 1920s Chicago, Jerry and Rhoda find each other at the Dil Pickle Club—a bohemian haven for artists, radicals, and free thinkers. Drawn together by shared ideals and an undeniable connection, their love ignites. But as a devastating disease spreads, prejudice tightens its grip, and society teeters on the edge of change, will their bond endure? Inspired by the real-life letters of Chicago bookseller Jerry Nedwick and featuring iconic figures like Carl Sandburg, Clarence Darrow, and Fanny Brice, this captivating tale comes to life.

Create a holiday masterpiece at Glessner House’s tenth annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party! Create your own mini-gingerbread house to take home. All supplies are included. We will have lots of helpers, so no previous decorating experience is necessary! This event is recommended for ages 3-13 – children must be accompanied by an adult. Two seatings at 10:00am and 1:00pm.

The tree is decorated and the stockings are hung, so Frances Glessner is planning a very special Christmas luncheon with the assistance of her favorite cook, Mattie Williamson, and you are invited.

Join us in the dining room and parlor for a variety of tasty holiday treats, inspired by actual menus prepared by Frances Glessner for her guests. The menu will include soup, a variety of sandwiches, and tempting desserts, accompanied by spiced cider and mulled wine.

During the meal, our curator William Tyre, will share stories about memorable Christmas celebrations by the Glessners through the years.

Celebrate an authentic old-fashioned Christmas at Glessner House this holiday season!

These special one hour docent-led tours will highlight Christmas customs as observed by the Glessner family. The house will feature elaborate decorations of the late 19th-century including a live 10-foot tree decorated with period ornaments, toys and holiday crafts, Christmas music performed on the Glessners’ Steinway piano, and the dining table set for an eight-course Christmas feast. After the tour, enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.

Celebrate an authentic old-fashioned Christmas at Glessner House this holiday season!

These special one hour docent-led tours will highlight Christmas customs as observed by the Glessner family. The house will feature elaborate decorations of the late 19th-century including a live 10-foot tree decorated with period ornaments, toys and holiday crafts, Christmas music performed on the Glessners’ Steinway piano, and the dining table set for an eight-course Christmas feast. After the tour, enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.

Celebrate an authentic old-fashioned Christmas at Glessner House this holiday season!

These special one hour docent-led tours will highlight Christmas customs as observed by the Glessner family. The house will feature elaborate decorations of the late 19th-century including a live 10-foot tree decorated with period ornaments, toys and holiday crafts, Christmas music performed on the Glessners’ Steinway piano, and the dining table set for an eight-course Christmas feast. After the tour, enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.