Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
More Frank Lloyd Wright Homes
In addition to Robie House, several of Wright's earlier works, still privately
owned, dot the streets of Hyde Park, such as the
Heller House,
5132 S.
Woodlawn Ave. (1897); the
Blossom House,
1332 E. 49th St. (1882); and
the
McArthur House,
4852 S. Kenwood Ave. (1892).
Note:
The above-
named houses are not open to the public, so they should only be admired
from the outside.
Finds
to the institution over the course of his lifetime. Designed by Bertram Goodhue,
an architect known for his ecclesiastical buildings—including Cadet Chapel at
West Point and New York City's St. Thomas Church—the Memorial Chapel
was dedicated in 1928.
In keeping with the rest of the campus, which is patterned after Oxford, it is
reminiscent of English Gothic structures but was built from limestone and with
modern construction techniques. Its most outstanding features are the circular
stained-glass window high above the main altar (the windows, in general, are
among the largest of any church or cathedral anywhere) and the world's second-
largest carillon, which was donated by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., in 1932 in mem-
ory of his mother, Laura. The chapel's organ is nearly as impressive, with four
manuals, 126 stops, and more than 10,000 pipes.
Choir concerts, carillon performances, and other musical programs are pre-
sented throughout the year, usually for a small donation. The building is open
to the public; in-depth tours can be arranged through the university's Office of
Special Events at
&
773/702-9636.
Tours of the carillon are done during the
academic year; call the office to find out times. Allow a half-hour.
5850 S. Woodlawn Ave.
&
773/702-2100.
http://rockefeller.uchicago.edu. Free admission. Daily 8am-4pm
(except during religious services). Bus: 6.
The Smart Museum of Art
The University of Chicago's fine arts museum
looks rather modest, but it packs a lot of talent into a compact space. Its per-
manent collection of more than 7,000 paintings and sculptures spans Western
and Eastern civilizations and ranges from classical antiquity to the present day.
Bona fide treasures include ancient Greek vases, Chinese bronzes, and Old Mas-
ter paintings; Frank Lloyd Wright furniture; Tiffany glass; sculptures by Degas,
Matisse, and Rodin; and 20th-century paintings and sculptures by Mark
Rothko, Arthur Dove, Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, Henry Moore, and
Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt. Built in 1974, the contemporary building
doesn't really fit in with the Gothic style of other campus buildings, but its
sculpture garden and outdoor seating area make a nice place for quiet contem-
plation. The museum also has a gift shop and cafe. Allow 1 hour.
5550 S. Greenwood Ave. (at E. 55th St.).
&
773/702-0200.
http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu. Free admis-
sion; donations welcome. Tues-Wed and Fri 10am-4pm; Thurs 10am-8pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5pm. Closed hol-
idays. Bus: 6.
EXPLORING THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Walking around the Gothic spires of the University of Chicago campus is bound
to conjure up images of the cloistered academic life. Allow about an hour to stroll
through the grassy quads and dramatic stone buildings (if the weather's nice, do
as the students do and vegetate for a while on the grass). If you're visiting on a
weekday, your first stop should be the university's
Visitors Information Desk
