Chicago’s Stained Glass Art

Posted by Meg Nola Jul 5, 2008

If you happening to be visiting Chicago this summer, you might want to seek out a lesser-known museum that combines the art of stained glass with 19th and 20th century Chicago history. Located at Navy Pier by the vast blue glory of Lake Michigan, The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows has free admission and, according to its website, offers:

…unique insight into Chicago's cultural, ethnic and artistic history. The time period (the windows) represent, 1870 to the present, was an era of intense urban revision that featured the development, decline and revitalization of neighborhoods, the development of commercial and cultural institutions, the evolution of artistic styles and the response of various ethnic groups to these changes.

...Well-known artists' windows on display include Louis Comfort Tiffany and John LaFarge, as well as Chicago artists Ed Paschke and Roger Brown. The museum also presents unique contemporary pieces including stained glass portraits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Michael Jordan and a window created from soda pop bottles.

While you’re still under the luminous spell of stained glass art, head further into town to the also free Chicago Cultural Center, where the gorgeous 1897 Tiffany dome ceiling has just been renovated and is letting in actual sunlight for the first time in 70 years. The dome is composed of 30,000 pieces of glass and spans 38 feet in diameter, with a central area featuring the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Click here for more about the restoration of the Tiffany dome with hours and location info. Then click here to learn more about The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows and plan a visit.