The Union League Club of Chicago

This year’s Open House Chicago led me to a truly stunning space: The Union League Club of Chicago. 📍 65 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604 Stepping inside, I felt surrounded by a kind of “beauty of economic ascendance”: heavy wooden doors, soft lighting, exquisite drapery, dazzling chandeliers, and historic hallways that transport you back to Chicago’s Gilded Age — the very essence of old-world elegance. This isn’t just a social club — it’s a hidden art sanctuary in the heart of the city. 🎨 The club’s art collection dates back to 1891. It helped establish institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago, The Field Museum, and the Harold Washington Library. Today, the collection boasts over 700 works — paintings, sculptures, prints, and photography — a third of which are by women artists, spanning diverse eras and geographic influences. The core of the collection is 20th-century American art, especially Midwestern artists like Roger Brown, Gertrude Abercrombie, and Hebru Brantley — talk about deep pockets and taste! 💰🖼️ The club’s first acquisition was Ross Sterling Turner’s Cologne Cathedral (1886), donated by member J.M. Thatcher. It’s a watercolor that uses Chinese White pigment to highlight architectural details, making the cathedral glow against the soft wash of the background. 😂 Funny moment: Our tour guide pointed to The Old Homestead and called it a Monet. At first glance, the style did resemble Monet’s… But looking closer at the caption — turns out it’s actually by Wilson Henry Irvine! 😅 A little art history mix-up, but all part of the charm. #Chicago #OpenHouseChicago #UnionLeagueClub #ChicagoHistory #ArtCollector #HiddenGem