Is This the Most Important Gilded Age Mansion in America? (Glessner House)

Chicago’s Gilded Age saw some of the country’s most opulent houses, but one in particular went on to inspire some of the greatest architects of the 20th century.

Like, Comment, and Share our video, subscribe if you enjoyed this video!!

Location: Chicago, IL

Join our Membership program:
Photos from: Library of Congress

CC2.0: Teemu008, artistmac, Eric Allix Rogers, Damian entwistle
CC4.0: Shruti Kansara
Assets From: Envato Elements
Public Domain Photos from Glessner House, Library of Congress
Music from: Epidemic Sound
Excerpt from Thamas C Hubka’s “H.H. Richardson’s Glessner House: A garden in the Machine

[scoopj]

The Glessners were my great-great grandparents. Many of the tiles in the fireplaces and much of the furniture was returned from FGL’s summer home, The Rocks Estate, in Bethlehem NH after my grandmother passed away. When I was lucky enough to tour the house, the docent was shocked when I told her I had slept in Frances’ bed! You did the house justice! Thank you!

[curiousworld]

I love Richardsonian Romanesque, and this is a magnificent example of Richardson's art. The addition of William Morris wallpaper and other fine details, make this a truly marvelous house. I'm so glad it was saved - so much architecture is lost in the US, as we tend to always want 'new'. I had heard of the daughter's forensic interests and achievements, but I hadn't connected her with this house. I've seen pictures of it in books on late 19th - early 20th century domestic architecture, and have long admired it. Thanks for sharing. :)

[francesgrumblatt]

The woodwork’ in this house is awesome!

[michaelroark]

If I had to sum up the house in one word, it is taste. Richardson was a genius in design to have conceived of the house so quickly that fit the constraints of the lot and streets. All the other contemporary houses on the street had large windows facing the street and its noise, but this house faced a courtyard and garden. Also the furnishings express taste. I collect arts and crafts pottery and from the pictures they had some magnificent examples. Of course the tiles by De Morgan were of the highest marks as was the wall paper from William Morris.

You can tell that it was a happy marriage too. Glad that the house was preserved.

[mitchellbarnow]

I love it when I get to the end of the video and find out that “This House” was not bulldozed!

[Donner]

Purchased for $35, 000. It's fortunate that the house still has a purpose in our throw-away society. The design reminds me of an Italian urban Renaissance palace, with a fortress-like appearance facing the city streets as protection against occasional fighting factions. The interior is American, avoiding the ostentations of so many east coast mansions.

[vickilindberg]

I like these people. They treated their children really well. Very respectful.

[christopherkraft]

What a grand old home!!! I'm glad that it exists today in all of it's glory!!! 👍👍🙂

[paco]

This house deserved the extra time you gave it. Thank you for keeping history alive. The "modern day equivalent " prices always makes me laugh!

[pauljackman]

The Glessner house is a must visit in Chicago for all architecture fans. It is in an amazing state of preservation, with furniture, art and decor so intact that it feels as if the family has only stepped out for a moment, soon to return.

[NelsonClick]

Honestly, I never heard of this building but knowing it now I can see it's one of the most significant residential American homes ever built. Everything about this house has an advanced sensibility. An awareness of what came before and what everyone else was doing in order to avoid mistakes. There was no social climbing "they're going to be so impressed" anxiety or false declarations of eminence. Only a desire for comfort and harmony in living. That's why it's important.

[ganymededarling]

Touring this home was the highlight of our trip to Chicago this year. Beautiful place!

[JosephStJames]

Your attention to detail is amazing. 😀‼️

[joecesa]

A truly happy ending for the house and future generations; boy did I need it today :). Thanks.

[Donald_Shaw]

What a treasure of a home. Thanks so much Ken for showing us pictures of the Glessner home.

[calendarpage]

I looked at the house on Google maps and was surprised to find that you can 'walk' through some of the rooms. It's great to see them in color and you get a real feel for what it might have been like to live there, or at least to take the tour if you can't get to Chicago. There's a blue tile surround on one of the fireplaces that is just gorgeous.

[BelindaMuller]

Thank you for creating this wonderful channel. I live in Australia where English and the colonisation - or colonazition 😉 - of Australia was covered in our history lessons at school, but very little on American history.
Your channel not only fascinates me daily from an architectural design perspective, but regularly exposes historical American figures I knew little or nothing about - thus expanding my knowledge further as I research these individuals. They often connect to other historical figures I do know of which is exciting.
My only frustration is that in cases where the houses you feature are still in existence, even kept or restored to the original design and open for viewing, most of the content shown is black and white photographs. It would be sensational to see these rooms in living colour and even side by side shots of now vs. then.
I know your channel is young, and has come a very long way in its short time on YouTube. The amount of content you produce must require more hours of research than I can comprehend, so I was wondering - is it a funding issue that prevents visiting the sites today? Is it greater numbers of members you need to fund the extra help, travel expenses, meet set deadlines to enhance content that you have otherwise obviously well researched and released with passion?
Edit* This is not meant to be a criticism at all, but rather asking if you need specific assistance in order to meet growing interests and requests from your followers?

[h.a.harris]

Thanks for making this video, H H Richardson is one of my favorite architects. The William Morris prints and de Morgan tiles were a rare treat; I'm a great fan of both artists.

[jamesdalton]

I agree the Glessner house is one of the most important examples of American architecture. I don't consider it, however, an example of the "Gilded Age" home. Glessner house was built with the mindset of the English Arts and Crafts movement. Typical Gilded Age houses embraced conspicuous consumption to the nth degree. The Arts and Crafts ideal was that even utilitarian objects could be handcrafted and show the true beauty of the item as well as the material of which it was constructed. Not only could one have beautiful paintings and tapestries in one's house, but the coal scuttle and hearth broom could be objects of beauty as well. Very different ways of looking at life.

[chucklambooy]

While living in Chicago I was fortunate enough to see this amazing building. Seeing the photography again was a treat