Open House Chicago

File:2018 OHC Logo.png

Open House Chicago (OHC) is a free weekend festival held annually in Chicago that allows participants to visit dozens of buildings that are not typically open to the public.

OHC is organized by the Chicago Architecture Foundation over a two-day period each year in mid-October. The event promotes appreciation of architecture by the general public.

OHC began in 2011 and it is part of a worldwide network of Open House events that started with Open House London in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.openhouseworldwide.org/|title=Open House Worldwide|first=Jason Badrock/Alastair|last=Cassels|website=Openhouseworldwide.org|accessdate=11 October 2017}} Its organizers state that event objectives include enabling participants to “venture into new neighborhoods, learn the stories of Chicago’s architecture and experience the diversity and culture of each community.”{{cite web|url=http://www.openhousechicago.org/about|title=About|website=Open House Chicago|accessdate=11 October 2017}} OHC is an important event for tourism in Chicago.{{cite web|url=http://www.choosechicago.com/articles/view/OPEN-HOUSE-CHICAGO/407/|title=Open House Chicago - Events - Choose Chicago|website=Choosechicago.com|accessdate=11 October 2017}} Funding for the event comes from the Chicago Architecture Center and from corporate sponsors, government agencies, foundations, and individual donors. The event relies on approximately 2,600 volunteers to staff participating buildings.

Dates and attendance

class="wikitable"
DatesNumber of sitesVisits to included sitesEstimated individual attendeessource
Oct 15–16, 201113184,00023,000{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/10/13/an-architectural-speed-date-awaits/|title=Open House Chicago architectural walking tour|website=Articles.chicagotribune.com|access-date=11 October 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/07/open-house-chicago-archit_n_1000239.html |title=Open House Chicago: Architecture Foundation Offers Free Tours |website=HuffPost |accessdate=2015-11-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005210044/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/07/open-house-chicago-archit_n_1000239.html |archivedate=2015-10-05 }}
Oct 13–14, 2012198142,00040,000{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/13/open-house-chicago-2012-1_n_1963803.html|title=Open House Chicago 2012: 150 Sites Offering Free, Behind-The-Scenes Access (PHOTOS)|date=13 October 2012|website=Huffingtonpost.com|accessdate=11 October 2017}}
Oct 19–20, 2013157194,00055,000{{cite web|url=http://chicagoist.com/2013/09/25/caf_finalizes_sites_for_this_years.php|title=Chicago Architecture Foundation Finalizes Sites for This Year's Open House Chicago|website=Chicagoist.com|accessdate=11 October 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113073550/http://chicagoist.com/2013/09/25/caf_finalizes_sites_for_this_years.php|archivedate=13 January 2016}}
Oct 18–19, 2014167285,00075,000{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2014/10/16/what-to-eat-and-see-this-weekend-at-open-house-chicago|title=What to eat and see this weekend at Open House Chicago|first=Michael|last=Gebert|website=Chicagoreader.com|date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=11 October 2017}}
Oct 17–18, 2015204320,00085,000{{cite web|url=http://wgntv.com/2015/10/15/open-house-chicago-step-inside-the-citys-architectural-wonders-for-free/|title=Open House Chicago: Step inside the city's architectural wonders for free|date=16 October 2015|website=Wgntv.com|accessdate=11 October 2017}}
Oct 15–16, 2016213380,000100,000{{cite web|url=http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/11/9/13571920/open-house-chicago-attendance-numbers|title=100,000 people attended this year's Open House Chicago|website=Chicago.curbed.com|date=9 November 2016 |accessdate=11 October 2017}}
Oct 14–15, 2017257347,00091,000{{cite web|url=http://www.architecture.org/news/happening-caf/open-house-chicago-2017-by-the-numbers/|title=Open House Chicago by the numbers|website=architecture.org|accessdate=17 August 2018}}
Oct 13–14, 2018280366,000100,000{{cite web |title=The Chicago Architecture Center announced that 100,000 attendees visited a record number of sites and neighborhoods during Open House Chicago 2018 |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/architecture-org/files/resources/ohc-2018-attendance-press-release-v102318.pdf |publisher=Chicago Architecture Center |accessdate=2 November 2019}}
Oct 19–20, 2019almost 350{{cite web |title=Chicago Architecture Center announces new neighborhoods and special 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre trail for ninth Open House Chicago, October 19 and 20, 2019 |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/architecture-org/files/resources/ohc-2019-site-announcement-press-release.pdf |publisher=Chicago Architecture Center |accessdate=2 November 2019}}
Oct 16–Nov 1, 2020over 50000Virtual due to COVID-19 pandemic
Oct 16-17, 2021over 100{{cite web |title=Where to Go During Open House Chicago 2021 |url=https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2021/10/13/where-go-during-open-house-chicago-2021 |publisher=WTTW |accessdate=7 October 2024}}
Oct 15-16, 2022over 150{{cite web |title=Chicago Architecture Center presents Open House Chicago 2022 October 15 & 16, 2022 |url=https://www.preservationchicago.org/chicago-architecture-center-presents-open-house-chicago-2022-october-15-16-2022/ |publisher=Preservation Chicago |accessdate=7 October 2024}}
Oct 14-15, 2023over 170{{cite web |title=The 20 best buildings to see during Open House Chicago 2023 |url=https://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/22-buildings-to-see-during-open-house-chicago |publisher=Time Out |accessdate=7 October 2024}}
Oct 19-20, 2024over 170{{cite web |title=Open House Chicago offers the chance to visit 170 city landmarks |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/open-house-chicago-offers-the-chance-to-visit-170-city-landmarks/3567123/ |publisher=NBC 5 Chicago |accessdate=7 October 2024}}

Sites

File:Fine Arts Building, Open House Chicago.jpg in 2019's Open House]]

Sites include spaces inside historic and architecturally significant buildings that aren't generally open to the public, including historic mansions, Frank Lloyd Wright homes, theaters, skyscrapers, exclusive private clubs, opulent hotel ballrooms and suites, rooftops, industrial sites and design and architecture offices.{{cite web|url=http://chicagoist.com/2015/10/15/peek_inside_the_citys_architectural.php|title=Peek Inside The City's Architectural Gems At Open House Chicago|website=Chicagoist.com|accessdate=11 October 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127001126/http://chicagoist.com/2015/10/15/peek_inside_the_citys_architectural.php|archivedate=27 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://chicagoist.com/2015/09/18/tour_over_200_local_historical_site.php|title=Tour These 200 Historical Sites With Open House Chicago|website=Chicagoist.com|accessdate=11 October 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011062915/http://chicagoist.com/2015/09/18/tour_over_200_local_historical_site.php|archivedate=11 October 2017}}

Highlights include Tribune Tower,{{cite web|url=http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2012/10/17/open-house-2012-chicago-tribune-towers.php|title=The Immensely Gratifying and Deceptively Short Tribune Tower|website=Chicago.curbed.com|date=17 October 2012 |accessdate=11 October 2017}} Kemper Building,{{cite web|url=http://www.architecture.org/architecture-chicago/topics-news/making-of-open-house/meet-our-site-hosts-diana-hickert-hill-kemper-corporation/|title=Meet an OHC site host: Diana Hickert-Hill, Kemper Corporation|website=Chicago Architecture Foundation - CAF|accessdate=11 October 2017}} Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Fine Arts Building,{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/18/open-house-chicago-2013_n_4118503.html|title=Open House Chicago 2013: See The Hidden Treasures Inside Chicago's Most Interesting Buildings|first=Kim|last=Bellware|date=18 October 2013|website=Huffingtonpost.com|accessdate=11 October 2017}} Chicago Board of Trade Building, The Rookery, Aon Center, Chicago Temple Building, Emil Bach House,{{cite web|url=http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151020/rogers-park/tour-frank-lloyd-wright-home-people-line-down-block-see-photos|title=Inside The Frank Lloyd Wright Home People Line Up To See: PHOTOS|website=DNAinfo Chicago|accessdate=11 October 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011130827/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151020/rogers-park/tour-frank-lloyd-wright-home-people-line-down-block-see-photos|archivedate=11 October 2017}} Elks National Memorial,{{cite web|url=http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2013/10/23/elks-national-memorial.php|title=Touring the Elks National Memorial; Roof at theWit; More!|date=23 October 2013 |publisher=}} New Regal Theater{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150925/hyde-park/south-sides-restoration-on-full-view-for-open-house-chicago|title=South Side's Restoration on Full View for Open House Chicago|website=DNAinfo Chicago|accessdate=11 October 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222022133/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150925/hyde-park/south-sides-restoration-on-full-view-for-open-house-chicago|archivedate=22 February 2016}} and more.{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/chicago/blog/10-new-places-to-visit-during-open-house-chicago-101415|title=10 new places to visit during Open House Chicago|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://openhousechicago.org/sites/|title=Sites|website=Open House Chicago|accessdate=11 October 2017}}

See also

References

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