Built in 1897 as the city's public library and transformed into a showplace
for visual and performing arts in 1991, the Chicago Cultural Center is an
overlooked civic treasure. Its basic beaux arts exterior conceals a
sympluous interior of rare marble, fine hardwood, stained glass, polished
brass, and mosaics of Favrile glass, colored stone, and mother of pearl
inlaid in white marble. The crowning centerpiece is Preston Bradley Hall's
majestic Tiffany dome, said to be the largest of its kind in the world. The
building also house one of the Chicago office of Tourism's visitor centers,
which makes it an ideal place to kick - start your visit, and the highly
enjoyable museum of Broadcast Communications. If you stop in to pick up
tourist information and take a quick look around, your visit wont take
longer than half an hour But the cultural Center also hosts an array of art
exhibitions, concerts, films lectures, and other special events, which might
convince you to extend your time here. A long - standing tradition is the
12.15pm Dame Myra Hess Memorial Classical concert every wenesday in the
preston Bradley Hall.Other ongoing programs include a monthly cultural
festival which highlights a different city or country over a weekend with
art, theatre and film.
Hours: MOn to wed 10am to 7pm,
Thurs 10am to 9pm,
Fri 10am to 6pm,
Sat 10am to 5pm,
Sun 11am to 5pm Address: 78 E Washington St.
Phone: 312/744 - 6630
Fax: 312/844 - 2089 |
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