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Absolutely incredible house. Beautiful architecture with many impressive features and beautiful art to look at. Absolutely loved this house and museum. Would definitely recommend this as a must do activity in Chicago. The people who work there are also super knowledgeable about the history and the art.
This is a relatively small museum in Near North Side. A small auditorium will greet you upon entering. The first floor showcases beautiful rooms including the receiving and dining area and more. Fine furniture, statues, and other fixtures have interesting stories. They have a grand staircase that leads to the second floor which houses mainly the Tiffany lamps in different rooms. The third floor has a small Wizard of Oz exhibit with a part where you can take your pictures with some wearable items like a headband with lion's fur and ears, an axe, wands, etc. The small gift shop is also on this floor. You can finish the entire museum in 45 minutes. If you only have limited time in Chicago, you may want to skip this.
WOW! We to see the Rookery as I am a Frank Lloyd fan, and after, we decided to check out Dreihaus since it was close. So glad we made the time to tour this museum house. I was blown away each room we stepped in to. So much opulence! Gorgeous furnishings, decor, wall treatments. Each room grander than the next. All featuring exquisite pieces from artists, notably for me; Tiffany and Mary Cassat and the very numerous and timely political cartoon collection. I've been to some Vanderbilt houses and I felt like they've got nothing on the marble & stretched fabric walls and the over the top wood and tile of Nickerson. The lovely security guard asks if we had any questions and talked to us for like 15 minites about the history of the house. She was so knowledgeable! If you are into vintage architecture and design, don't miss this place!
Stunning restored and/or maintained home with interesting exhibits. Great staff-very helpful, and friendly. Free Wednesdays from 4-7, but easily worth the price of admission.
Neighborhood gem - I learned so much about the history of the Nickerson Mansion The Tiffany Lamp exhibit was also stunning!
The main attraction of the museum is in an extremely well-built house from the "Gilded Age" that was built over a 4-year period from 1879-1883 with no cost spared for top quality. It has been restored to its original grandeur. The first floor looks like something right out of an affluent place in 1890. There are 3 floors. The guided tour takes an hour and you get good stories. You can tour on your own as well as your own pace. They have an app you can download for details. The tour is $5 more and enables your questions to get answered.
What a gem, and who knew such a great historical home/museum in Chicago. I was amazed at the original or period furniture, paintings, wall coverings, lamps, woodwork, stone work, stained glass, ceilings, etc. It was a lot to take in. The first floor is where they have the rooms layed out as they were when the home was occupied. The furnishings were lovely to see. One can only imagine the opulence at the time it was occupied. The second floor housed the bedrooms. For some time, this was used by the American College of Surgeons, who emptied the furniture from the 2nd floor. So, the bedrooms were empty of furniture, but the walls were covered by the artwork from a special exhibit. The same was true with the 3rd floor. The rooms were being used to display the art exhibit. The 3rd floor also has the museum gift shop. This was really a treat to see.
Neighborhood gem. Very close to public transport, shops, and restaurants. Museum is large, has many levels.
Wizard of Oz & Tiffany lamps exhibit extended thank goodness! Extremely courteous staff who take the time out of their day to answer any questions about the house's history! $15 tickets for students with ids, admission ends an hour before close. Kiddy corner to McCormick house as well.
An excellent display of a mansion built with craftsmanship and marble, granite, different woods from around the world throughout the mansion from floor to ceiling. If you go, take the tour. Then explore on your own. For a limited time there is also a wizard of Oz display room. Call ahead. Possibly Wednesdays are free admission.
Stopped in for their new exhibit on Rory McEwan and ended up staying far longer than planned. This is my favorite museum but I'll admit I've been less than excited by some of their visiting exhibits. This one was a joy. Great art intermixed with historic examples. Nicely curated. And my first chance to explore the new auditorium. A great add on to a visit to the city. Just a couple blocks off Michigan avenue shopping
The Museum is located just steps from the Magnificent Mile. When you need a break from shopping come and visit this museum. Philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus, sponsored its restoration from 2003-2008 and was named after him. His collection of antiques from the Gilded Age, is housed in the museum. I loved the silk wall coverings, it looks like wallpaper, but it's all silk. Some of the walls were covered in tiles. It was beautiful. The rooms are corded off to keep visitors away from furniture and antiques. On the 3rd floor they have a piece of the silk wall covering and tiles you can touch. This was a worthwhile stop during our short trip in Chicago. It was perfect for a rainy day.
Go on Wednesday between 4-6 and you can see it for free! They had a great Tiffany glass exhibit that is on until march. Tomorrow they are opening up a wizard of oz exhibit. The staff were very helpful. The house itself is a true masterpiece I would pay attention to the details of the room not just what is adorning it. Nice little afternoon. I don't think you would spend more than an hour here but there was only one exhibit open when I was here.
This place I found while walking downtown and it's so nice inside this museum/mansion. They have a place downstairs to place food or drinks if you bring it in, but they did offered military discount . It was stunning inside and it had like three floors with the top floor having a gift shop. I really enjoyed all the art and painting around the mansion. read more
This is the Nickerson Mansion huilt in 1883 which was bought and restored over several years by Richard Driehaus. It has several items original to the home, plus some of Driehaus' collection. There was an art exibit of satirical prints from London and Dublin on display when we went through. Beautiful Tiffany lamps and chandeliers, marble, tile, woodworking throughout the whole home. Learned more about the history of Chicago and what it was like at the time the mansion was first built. read more
Driehaus Museum is beautiful! It is a smaller museum that features stunning art and architecture. I was able to get a student discount for my ticket, so I only paid $13. If I had paid more, I think I would have been a little disappointed. They offer tours throughout the day and I wish I had joined one. There is a little bit of signage throughout, but I think I would have gotten more out of it with a guide. The bathrooms are located in the basement and they are spotlessly clean. There is a small gift shop on the third floor which has a variety of nice Chicago and gilded age themed gifts. Driehaus Museum was truly a feast for the eyes. I'm not sure I'll come back, as I feel like I've seen what I needed to see, but I'm glad I stopped in. It is beautiful! read more
Absolutely incredible house. Beautiful architecture with many impressive features and beautiful art to look at. Absolutely loved this house and museum. Would definitely recommend this as a must do activity in Chicago. The people who work there are also super knowledgeable about the history and the art. read more
This is a relatively small museum in Near North Side. A small auditorium will greet you upon entering. The first floor showcases beautiful rooms including the receiving and dining area and more. Fine furniture, statues, and other fixtures have interesting stories. They have a grand staircase that leads to the second floor which houses mainly the Tiffany lamps in different rooms. The third floor has a small Wizard of Oz exhibit with a part where you can take your pictures with some wearable items like a headband with lion's fur and ears, an axe, wands, etc. The small gift shop is also on this floor. You can finish the entire museum in 45 minutes. If you only have limited time in Chicago, you may want to skip this. read more
3 months ago
WOW! We to see the Rookery as I am a Frank Lloyd fan, and after, we decided to check out Dreihaus since it was close. So glad we made the time to tour this museum house. I was blown away each room we stepped in to. So much opulence! Gorgeous furnishings, decor, wall treatments. Each room grander than the next. All featuring exquisite pieces from artists, notably for me; Tiffany and Mary Cassat and the very numerous and timely political cartoon collection. I've been to some Vanderbilt houses and I felt like they've got nothing on the marble & stretched fabric walls and the over the top wood and tile of Nickerson. The lovely security guard asks if we had any questions and talked to us for like 15 minites about the history of the house. She was so knowledgeable! If you are into vintage architecture and design, don't miss this place! read more
1 year ago
Neighborhood gem - I learned so much about the history of the Nickerson Mansion The Tiffany Lamp exhibit was also stunning! read more
The main attraction of the museum is in an extremely well-built house from the "Gilded Age" that was built over a 4-year period from 1879-1883 with no cost spared for top quality. It has been restored to its original grandeur. The first floor looks like something right out of an affluent place in 1890. There are 3 floors. The guided tour takes an hour and you get good stories. You can tour on your own as well as your own pace. They have an app you can download for details. The tour is $5 more and enables your questions to get answered. read more
What a gem, and who knew such a great historical home/museum in Chicago. I was amazed at the original or period furniture, paintings, wall coverings, lamps, woodwork, stone work, stained glass, ceilings, etc. It was a lot to take in. The first floor is where they have the rooms layed out as they were when the home was occupied. The furnishings were lovely to see. One can only imagine the opulence at the time it was occupied. The second floor housed the bedrooms. For some time, this was used by the American College of Surgeons, who emptied the furniture from the 2nd floor. So, the bedrooms were empty of furniture, but the walls were covered by the artwork from a special exhibit. The same was true with the 3rd floor. The rooms were being used to display the art exhibit. The 3rd floor also has the museum gift shop. This was really a treat to see. read more
8 months ago
Neighborhood gem. Very close to public transport, shops, and restaurants. Museum is large, has many levels. read more
8 months ago
Wizard of Oz & Tiffany lamps exhibit extended thank goodness! Extremely courteous staff who take the time out of their day to answer any questions about the house's history! $15 tickets for students with ids, admission ends an hour before close. Kiddy corner to McCormick house as well. read more
1 year ago
An excellent display of a mansion built with craftsmanship and marble, granite, different woods from around the world throughout the mansion from floor to ceiling. If you go, take the tour. Then explore on your own. For a limited time there is also a wizard of Oz display room. Call ahead. Possibly Wednesdays are free admission. read more
1 year ago
Stopped in for their new exhibit on Rory McEwan and ended up staying far longer than planned. This is my favorite museum but I'll admit I've been less than excited by some of their visiting exhibits. This one was a joy. Great art intermixed with historic examples. Nicely curated. And my first chance to explore the new auditorium. A great add on to a visit to the city. Just a couple blocks off Michigan avenue shopping read more
2 years ago
The Museum is located just steps from the Magnificent Mile. When you need a break from shopping come and visit this museum. Philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus, sponsored its restoration from 2003-2008 and was named after him. His collection of antiques from the Gilded Age, is housed in the museum. I loved the silk wall coverings, it looks like wallpaper, but it's all silk. Some of the walls were covered in tiles. It was beautiful. The rooms are corded off to keep visitors away from furniture and antiques. On the 3rd floor they have a piece of the silk wall covering and tiles you can touch. This was a worthwhile stop during our short trip in Chicago. It was perfect for a rainy day. read more
1 year ago
Go on Wednesday between 4-6 and you can see it for free! They had a great Tiffany glass exhibit that is on until march. Tomorrow they are opening up a wizard of oz exhibit. The staff were very helpful. The house itself is a true masterpiece I would pay attention to the details of the room not just what is adorning it. Nice little afternoon. I don't think you would spend more than an hour here but there was only one exhibit open when I was here. read more
It's a while that I wanted to visit this museum since it's in River North and finally yesterday I made it. Honestly,it's one of the most beautiful museum in Chicago! The art and architecture it's from 19th-century which in my opinion it's very unique and gorgeous makes you feel in another universe. I totally recommended to visit this museum especially if you're an art lover. read more
2 years ago
What a great place! Being a native of the Chicago area when I was much younger, this is a "new" museum for me. It was close to our hotel so we decided to check it out. Worth every penny, and my 10 and 13 year old even enjoyed it. If you like design, each room has something to geek out on, for me it was multiple things, but just seeing the tile in some of these rooms brought me joy. read more
4 months ago
A few nights ago was the first time that I went to The Richard H. Driehaus Museum, which is housed within the historic Samuel M. Nickerson House, the 1883 residence of a wealthy Chicago banker, its design, architecture, and decorating tastes capture the essence of Gilded Age America. Our daughter was invited to the museum's seasonal open house and opening celebration of "Glass to Garden: Tiffany Inspired Floral Designs", Hubby and I were happy to be Daughter's guests. We spent a lovely evening exploring the stunning mansion museum! We have been to many historic houses, but this is one of the most beautiful ones. There are three levels with many rooms to explore, the library, smoking room, reception room, dining room, ballroom...you name it! There are marble, inlaid woodwork, stained glass, mosaic art, Tiffany lamps, and chandeliers in so many areas... I seldom took so many pictures in a single tour of a house! If you like historic houses, this is the one that you should not miss! The special exhibit of "Glass to Garden: Tiffany Inspired Floral Designs" provides plenty of stunning photo opps of bursting floral creations against the backdrop of treasures from the Gilded Age, and is open through January 7, 2024. If you park in the ROW Self Park garage that is only 2 blocks away, don't forget to have your ticket validated by the museum. Our 2-hour $57 parking fee was discounted by $40, we only needed to pay $17! read more
What a treat to find this gilded mansion built in 1883, in the heart of downtown, restored by Richard Driehaus, a collector of mansions. You can walk in. Tickets were $20, and $5 for the guided tour. I used my reciprocal membership from an out of town museum, and paid the $5 for the tour, which is a must. This house was built by the Nickerson family to show off, as was common then, being a prominent figure in the banking industry. From the hard parquet "carpet" floors, to the glass tiles, artwork, and fireplaces, the staircase is a show stopper. The library with a glass dome is stunning. The history is incredible. Lots of stairs to every floor. Credit card only. Not handicapped accessible throughout. Call to inquire about using the elevator. Check the website for information. Not recommended for young children. read more
10 months ago
I was floored by this museum (and I see a lot of museums and historical homes). This is probably one of the best, if not the best, historical homes I've seen. I spent over two hours here and took the tour, and still saw something new in each room every time I passed through. This home is an ornate example of the height of the gilded age. When I checked in, the docent asked me not to "pet" the walls. I thought that was an interesting word to use. After touring each room multiple times, it makes sense. Each room's walls are adorned in various textures and textiles. They juxtapose--cloth, tiles, ornate carved wood, and more. It's an intricate, sensuous, decadent salmagundi! Multiple fireplaces, a skylight, sculptures, carvings cherubs, sculptures, vases, a smorgasbord of rare Tiffany glass, lamps, and chandeliers. The first floor is mainly set up as the original home. The second and third floor also have elements of the original home, though they are mostly focused on special exhibits and the gift shop. When I visited, the focus was on art nouveau architect, Hector Guimard. I learned a lot, found it interesting, and found his work beautiful and intriguing. You can choose to peruse the museum on your own, for 20 dollars, but the tour is worthwhile at 25 dollars. I arrived early and spent over an hour wandering independently, then took the tour--and as I mentioned, I was still seeing new things every pass through a room. It was also helpful that I had taken the majority of my photos before the tour, so I could really focus. I'm against hoarding wealth, but I did thoroughly enjoy this trek through the gilded age. read more
Basically it's an old house made into a museum, so if you like looking around in old houses, this is certainly a thing to look at. It's the Nickerson Mansion, once home to one of Chicago's wealthiest families. The Driehaus Museum is full of their art collection, and the house itself is a piece of art as well. Good museum for those not wanting to walk around acres of sprawling exhibits. Lots of interesting artifacts and also has some exhibits that rotate at times. About the worst thing about it is the price of admission. It's $20 for adults, which is kind of high, especially for such a small museum but it's certainly worth going in and taking a look. There's enough to keep you occupied maybe a couple hours if you're into old art and houses such as this. Has a couple ways to explore. You can either look on your own or have a guided tour. Guided tours cost a little extra. The current exhibit is about preservationist Richard Nickel. Lots of interesting artifacts and information about saving things from old buildings. The museum also has a gift shop with things such as books about the house and other stuff. Has a lot to check out inside. It's not that big of a house ironically now what people are used to, but it was pretty impressive back then. This is a good thing if looking for a museum that doesn't have that much walking around and whatever. read more
A museum located in a Glided-age era mansion/house. There was a decent amount of artwork in that building and the late 19th century architecture comes to play in the inside too due to the presence of wallpaper and dark wood. However, I wish the museum included more furniture to display such as a bed, dressers/vanities, coffee tables, and etc. read more
Have intended to visit this gem for quite some time now and just never did. When What Richard Nickel saw showed up a buddy called and said let's go. What a exceptionally cool treasure in the area. Restored to Guilded Era splendor it is a masterpiece. Good gravy they do not make houses like this anymore. Seeing photos and pieces Nickel preserved was cool, the story of how one man pretty much created the preservation society in Chicago and his work inspired the Driehaus family to preserve this building, and many more. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
5 years ago
Beautiful space to spend an hour or two on a chilly Saturday in Chicago! It's not a museum in the typical sense, but I definitely learned a lot and enjoyed the experience of touring this posh mansion. We didn't take the guided tour, but there were docents on each floor who were so knowledgeable and answered every question we had. There are 3 floors, with 4-6 large open rooms on each floor, plus small side rooms, a foyer, grand staircase, and the large ballroom space. The gift store was closed for inventory today, but that looked interesting. It's up in the third floor. There is a small room with a tv screen that plays a movie about the history of the home, so that was nice to sit for a spell and watch the movie. $20 entry fee. Photos permitted, no flash. Street parking was $9.50. read more
The Driehaus Museum is a beautiful Art Nouveau historic home that reflects the Gilded Age of America. Entering you feel like you have been transported back in time. Originally built for Samuel Nickerson at a cost of $450,000 for construction and decoration, the "Marble Palace" was the most expensive private home in Chicago at the time it was built. It took four years to build and was completed in 1883. It was fireproofed with brick masonry to meet the city ordinances that were in place after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Nickerson's sold it to George Fisher for the bargain price of $7,500 in 1900. Upon Fisher's death, a cohort of concerned citizens, including William Wrigley Jr. and Julius Rosenwald, bought and preserved the home and donated it to The American College of Surgeons. After they outgrew this space, Richard Driehaus bought the home, restored it and converted it into this museum. It is amazing to walk through the opulent rooms and imagine the history contained within the walls. Talk to a docent or take a tour to get insight into the main halls, reception rooms, parlors and galleries. Interesting to hear about use and preservation of the building. There is also an amazing collection of Tiffany glass on display throughout the museum. Love how the museum is currently showcasing contemporary art. Yinka Shonibare is a British-Nigerian artist who creates sculptures, film, installation art and photographs to reflect on history, politics, colonialism, and fashion and contrast inequities within past and present society. His exhibit, "A Tale of Today," opens the dialog to the different perspectives. His sculptures and installation art, in this exhibit, are clothed in colorful Dutch wax fabric and are headless. The Dutch wax fabric was invented to compete with more expensive Indonesian batik textiles, but did not succeed in Europe or Indonesia. However, the Dutch brought the materials to West Africa where it became a method of communication and self expression. The headless figures are subject to many symbolic themes. It is interesting to realize the personal challenges that Shonibare's faces everyday. He contracted transverse myelitis at the eighteen years of life which left him with a hemiparesis/partial paralysis. This requires him to have assistants help to create his artwork. The exhibit will be on display until September 29, 2019. Thanks also to NARM for reciprocal member admissions. Used our Burke Museum pass for admission. They also have free admission days throughout the year like today. . read more
3 years ago
Incredible example of our "Gilded Age" opulence. Beautiful elegant home to show off immense turn of the century wealth. Heartily recommend a 2 hour stay. 1 hour tour. read more
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More info about Driehaus Museum
40 E Erie St
Chicago, IL 60611
Near North Side
Directions
(312) 482-8933
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http://www.driehausmuseum.org
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