richard h. driehaus museum

I'm so glad I read a review recommending this little museum. My 17 year old daughter and I visited here when we came to the city for a visit at Loyola University. What a gem. This is a very manageable sized museum to explore in detail for an hour or two. The guide who chatted with us throughout our visit was very knowledgable and added so much to the experience. So many hidden details here. Be sure to ask to see the servants' quarters!

It is gorgeous... a timepiece of that era... must see if you like little museums. The special jewelry exhibit is very interesting...never knew so much love went into the pieces.

If you have any interest in Chicago's social history, architecture, the Arts and Crafts movement, stained glass or just want to see stellar examples of artisanal work from the 19th century you must make time to spend 1-2 hours here at this incredible house museum.Admission is not cheap, but this is a well run facility. The staff is warm, knowledgeable and more than happy to share their enthusiasm for this wonderful mansion. I would say it is worth the extra $5 to spring for an hour long guided tour, it will give you some great informational background and, of course, one of the benefits of taking the tour is being able to ask questions of your guide.On the 2nd floor among the family bedrooms they have an exhibit of jewelry called Maker and Muse which is a very well curated collection. I believe it is running through the end of the year. Sensitively displayed, there is a free guidebook to the exhibition in English which is quite informative.Highly recommended site.

After living in Chicago for almost 7 years, it's inevitable to run out of site seeing options. That's how myself and my parents ended up spending an afternoon at this incredible Gilded Age home in downtown Chicago. I must have walked place this place 10s of times never realizing what was inside. The exterior is unassuming compared to the granduer of its three interior floors! The staff was so helpful and informed. We actually had a question about a chandelier located in the smoking room and a staff member looked through a few books just to be able to clarify what the inscription was in reference to! "Gilded Age" can be a bit of a misnomer to anyone not familiar with the time period (like we were). The woodwork itself is incredible and all the decors is true to the era! It's one of my favorite attractions in all of Chicago now!

Spent several hours touring this beautiful Gilded Age home, which is wonderfully restored. I highly recommend the tour, which is an additional $5. We were thrilled that the piece of history was saved by Richard Dreihaus, and with the photos that compare styles and furnishing of previous owners with its current presentation. A great addition to the many attractions Chicago offers! Current exhibit of women in jewelry-making is also engaging.

The mansion is outstanding by itself, demonstrating the best of the best of building and decorative arts. It also has a story about life of the upper, upper class at that time.The Maker and Muse display was lovely and gave insight into women's lives at that time too.Better than shopping and this area has some extraordinary shopping!

The mansion was very ornate. The tiles, mosaics and wood work are stunning. They had an interesting exhibit on jewelry.The staff was helpful and friendly. You only need to spend about an hour here, it was a bit expensive but worth it.

You could easily pass this place by unless you are a devoted house-museum hunter kind of sightseer. The massive ocher-colored sandstone rests like a crouching lion protecting its inner surprises. The Museum, formerly the Nickerson Home (then Fisher, etc), is like a miniature palace. In fact, it has been called "an American Palace", a sobriquet not much off the mark, considering what it contains. The entrance hall, with it's almost Tara-like majestic staircase, hints at what really juicy rooms lie waiting. There are many great touches, including a marvelous stained glass domed gallery with a marvelous sculpture of Eros and Psyche stretching toward the dome's riotous theme of four trees in autumnal splendor. There is a marvelous jewelry collection of the Art Nouveau and classical mixture dripping with famous designers and rather enormous creations of gems, gold, and metal craftsmanship. The best rooms are the library, the gallery, the drawing room, sewing room, smoking room, etc, in addition to the grand reception main hall. The upper floor has a comfortable sitting room with lovely upholstered chairs that beg you to enjoy the coffee-table books that you can also purchase from the gift shop. The only downside to this place is the rather stiff entry fee, which is a heart-stopping $20 per adult for a self-guided visit (seniors do get a break @ $12.50 per). The prices for the art books, which can be scanned while relaxing in the upper room, are also a bit pricy, but are beautifully done.

This museum is full of surprises, and that's why I keep going back. The Tiffany exhibit in 2014 was truly outstanding and the Maker and Muse exhibit for 2015 took my breath away. These exhibits point to a bright future for the museu, and that's not even mentioning the house itself! The exquisite woodwork, tilework, glasswork, metalwork - you name it - is absolutely mesmerizing. Three levels of gorgeous rooms with impeccable furnishings from a time gone by. It's so cool to see works of art set in a cozy atmosphere instead of a 'grey walls' museum environment. I have two tips for visiting:Tip 1: if you go around Christmastime, the Driehaus sets up a variety of amazing decorated trees and other festive holiday trim around the mansion. Definitely not to be missed!Tip 2: when you do visit, you must also check out the Driehaus Capital Management building diagonally across the street at 25 East Erie Street. You can't go in, but the building and grounds are spectacular and sometimes they have an exquisitely restored classic car in the driveway. Don't miss the working gas lamps!I visited so often that I decided to become a member, which is when I discovered the spectacular perks of membership: you instantly belong to the The North American Reciprocal Museum Association, you get invited to fancy cocktail parties at the museum, and you get an adorable tote bag.Chicago is so lucky to have the Driehaus Museum. I remember the building before the restoration and just look at it now!

Built of a different age, containing an outstanding collection of period pieces and art, with a knowledgeable docent to lead you thought the different floors and rooms.

Yes, yes - it is a bit expensive to see - we paid $25 each which included $5 for the guided tour. We were lucky enough to arrive just before it started (the self-guided audio tour is the same price). It may have lasted only an hour but the guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, plus we could stay as long as we wished until closing time going back through the house and exploring other areas that were open to the public. Photography (not flash) is allowed which is somewhat unusual so I took full advantage. Because the lighting is somewhat authentic it is pretty dark so be sure your camera can handle longer shutter times. The house and all the period artwork, sculptures, Tiffany glass, and jewelry make it much more than just "a house". Very nice and a nice treat when you're downtown and don't want to shop!

Our most recent visit was right after the 2015 New Year. Their Tiffany Exhibit was about to close.This museum reminds me of the Frick Collection Museum in New York City . . . But much better! An absolutely MUST SEE when visiting Chicago. I have been to Dreihaus twice recently.My last visit to Frick in NYC was in May, 2014. I can say Dreihaus is a much better experience. Frick is wanting to expand. Dreihaus speaks for itself, and needs no expansion!In a great neighborhood in Chicago, just walk a block further West to State Street to find great restaurants and shopping.

First, as a long time Chicagoan, I was happy to stumble upon a place I had never been. This gilded age mansion is completely breathtaking. The marble work and stained glass will transport you to a different era. Although you can see the entire museum in less than an hour, it is worth the price of admission. Stunning.

Set among high rises, this wonderful old residence portrays early Chicago from the vantage point of the wealthy banking lords. The rooms are well-preserved with impressive fire places, furniture and floors. The museum transports a visitor back decades. The staff is very helpful and informative.

This is a wonderful "hidden gem" in Chicago, just off of Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville area. The museum is a 3 story, completely restored grand old home, which serves as a gracious museum. The first floor is fully furnished, with every detail you can image. It is like being a guest in a grand old home 100 years ago. You can take a guided tour, or browse alone.The second story features a special exhibit, which changes once or twice a year. Last week a new exhibit opened called "Maker and Muse". It is a fabulous exhibit of breathtaking Victorian and Arts & Crafts jewelry from Europe, England, USA, and some Chicago artisans. The jewelry and small objects are all at least 100 years old and are displayed spectacularly.The third floor houses the permanent collection (which belongs to the Driehaus family) of an amazing display of Louis Tiffany Glass objects. It is stunning. This is a great way to spend an afternoon in Chicago, if you are tired of shopping and eating. You will not regret a visit here. It is memorable and lovely.