In 1966 a group of twenty individuals formed the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation to save Henry Hobson Richardson’s influential 1886 Glessner House from pending demolition. Five decades later, Chicago’s historic preservation movement has come a long way and continues to be at the forefront of many ongoing battle to save the Windy City’s most threatened architecture.
To commemorate the movement’s 50th anniversary, the Glessner House Museum, Landmarks Illinois, AIA Chicago, and Friends of Historic Second Church will join to host a day-long symposium on Saturday, October 8. The event will not only look back on past preservation cases, but forward to new efforts to save Chicago’s old buildings and the important role preservation will play for generations to come.
Officially dubbed "Historic Preservation at 50: Chicago and the Future of the Movement," the forum will include a number of lectures and panels discussions featuring top experts in the field. Scheduled between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM, the symposium will utilize both the historic Glessner House and the Second Presbyterian Church as venues.
Requiring prepaid advanced registration, the event charges $30 for full day admission with tickets for specific keynote speeches and panels costing less. Discounted tickets are available for Glessner House Museum members and box lunches can be reserved for $10. The schedule of events is posted below. Tickets and more information can be found here.
- Symposium: Historic Preservation at 50 [website]
- Previous Chicago historic preservation coverage [Curbed Chicago]