Illinois historic mansions are bold statements in architecture, showcasing the handiwork of some of Americas greatest designers.
Look at the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, a Frank Lloyd Wright marvel built for socialite Susan Lawrence Dana.
Then theres the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, a different architectural story entirely.
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Designed by Alfred Piquenard, this Italianate gem was built for the U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Lincoln confidant.
Glessner House Chicago
Glessner House in Chicagos Prairie Avenue District doesnt play by the traditional mansion rulebook.
Architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed it with chunky granite walls and small, almost fortress-like windows.
Step inside, and the fortress softens.
Every room speaks to the Glessners discerning taste and rejection of pretension.
Glessner House influenced American residential architecture, inspiring the likes of Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Each room holds a kind of Victorian charm, with curiosities and knick-knacks that capture a life well-traveled.
The rooms are rich with dark wood paneling, intricate plaster moldings, and stained-glass windows.
Mahogany paneling, chandeliers, and intricately tiled fireplaces filled each room.
Each room is meticulously decorated, featuring luxurious Victorian touches that echo Daviss influence and taste.
The library features floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and heavy furniture perfect for sinking into.
Swift Mansion Chicago
Swift Mansion in Chicagos Near South Side is a Victorian heavyweight with serious historical heft.
The mansions interiors are a Gilded Age dream, with grand staircases and intricate woodwork.
This mansion has lived as many lives as the city itself, from opulent home to social hub.
Though much of the Hull House complex was later demolished, the mansion itself remains preserved as a museum.
In a land of stoic stone facades and conservative lines, this Villa Kathrine breaks all the rules.
The art collection featured Monets and other impressionist gems Bertha championed, decades ahead of mainstream American taste.
Charnley-Persky House Chicago
The Charnley-Persky House in Chicagos Gold Coast is a turning point in American architecture.
The exterior is straightforward: a flat, brick facade punctuated by a few elegant arches and clean lines.
No gingerbread trim, no flashy ornamentation just pure geometry.
Now home to the Society of Architectural Historians, the Charnley-Persky House stands as a monument to architectural innovation.
Built in 1874 by architect W.W. Boyington it was the home of zinc tycoon Edward Hegeler.
Theres a sweeping spiral staircase, carved wood everywhere you look, and stained glass windows.
Built in 1902 for socialite Susan Lawrence Dana, this Prairie-style masterpiece is a singular statement.
The house is all about low lines and open spaces, crafted to fit the landscape.
Wrights signature art glass is everywhere, casting colorful shadows that shift throughout the day.
Now a museum, the Dana-Thomas House stands as one of Wrights most intact early works.
The interior features marble floors, elaborate frescoes, and vaulted ceilings covered in intricate gold leaf.
Theres even a private chapel tucked inside.
The house was built to impress, to flaunt, and, apparently, to fireproof.
