The Gold Coast

After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 some of the city's millionaires moved north to a neighborhood now known as the Gold Coast. This area runs along Lake Michigan from Chicago Avenue on the south to North Avenue on the north. Even though this remains a ritzy neighborhood today, there are still many things to do and see that are free for all.

The International Museum of Surgical Science located at 1524 North Lake Shore Drive is one such place. Admission is free every Tuesday. Not only are the exhibits interesting, the museum is housed in an old mansion. As you walk through, imagine what it must have been like to live there in the late 1800's. The Museum is closed on major holidays and in extreme cold and after heave snow.

As the address -Lake Shore Drive - right across the street from the Museum is Lake Michigan. Along this stretch is a pathway for walking, running, biking etc. and Oak Street Beach. The beaches are officially open to the public for free from Memorial Day (end of May) to Labor Day (first weekend in September), but the paths can be accessed all year long.

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The Newberry Library at 60 West Walton Street is a research library founded in 1887. It has been on its current site, across from a lovely park, since 1889. The library is open to the public and it is free to visit and attend their numerous exhibits and speaker events. Check the calendar on their website and click on "Open to the Public". In addition, free public tours of the Library are given on Thursdays at 3 PM (15:00) and Saturdays at 10:30 AM (10:30). This is also the place to go in Chicago for genealogy research. You can attend a free genealogy orientation on the first Saturday of every month at 9:30 AM (9:30)

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The original Playboy Mansion is located at 1340 North State Parkway. It was built in 1899 but served as Hugh Hefner's home from 1959-1974. The famous sign Hefner had hanging above the front door read "If You Don't Swing, Don't Ring". After Mr. Hefner moved to California he donated the building to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago at which time it was used as a student dormitory. In 1993 the original 72 rooms were converted into 7 individual units each selling well into the millions of dollars.

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Just 1 block east of the mansion at 1365 North Astor Street is the Charnely-Persky House. This home was designed in 1892 by Louis Sullivan and his young draftsman Frank Lloyd Wright. It is a National Hsitoric Landmark and now is the headquarters for the Society of Architectural Historians. Free 45-minutes guided tours are offered every Wednesday at noon. Tour group size is limited to 15 and entrance is on a first come, first served basis. Tours are also free on Saturday for teachers with a valid ID.

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The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts was founded in 1956. Its mission is to fund individual and group projects as well as offer public exhibitions and programs about "architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society". It is located at 4 West Burton Place. Check their website to find the list of free events.

Worth seeing is the Archbishop's residence at 1555 North State Parkway. The home was completed in 1885 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the years many dignitaries have stayed there including President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Pope John Paul II. I believe it is the largest residence in the city today. See if you can count all 19 chimneys. Note the current Archbishop resides in the residence by Holy Name Cathedral.

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The Gold Coast is a great place just to wander and enjoy the architecture. While there are still many historic homes, there are also condominiums and apartments built in the mid-century modern and contemporary  styles. The Gold Coast is also a favorite neighborhood to Trick or Treat on Halloween.

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This week we walked through the Gold Coat I hope you enjoyed all the things there were to do for free.

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GRANT PARK UPDATE: Near the south end of Grant Park is the home of a new piece of art titled "Artists Monument". Tony Tasset is using his art piece to honor 392,485 artists by carving their names in colorful acrylic panels mounted on 2 shipping containers. This piece stretches 80' in length (about 24.5 meters) and 8' in height (about 2.5 meters). The artists are listed in alphabetical order rather than in a hierarchy of importance. There is no information about how long "Artists Monument" will remain in Grant Park, so be sure to go see before it is too late. It is hoped enough money will be raised to eventually install it permanently on the campus of the University of Illinois at  Chicago. 

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All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the websites to get the most up-to-date information.
  
If you know of any free events in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at chicagofreeforall@gmail.com
 
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Next week I’ll showcase another nearby neighborhood in Chicago and all it has to offer that is free for all.