Halsted, Ann, House
Why it's listed
This brick house at 440 Belden in Chicago was designed in the spring of 1883 by Louis Sullivan, then in partnership with Dankmar Adler. The blueprints carry the label "D. Adler & Co." and the cost was reported as $15,000. Ann Halsted lived there by May 1884. The design mixes styles. Pointed bay windows and corbelled brick cornices and chimneys reflect Queen Anne taste, while the strictly formal front and the simplified facade point to Sullivan's French training. Sullivan's own ornament appears in the front and rear dormers, the rounded pediments on the sides, and the parlor fireplace. Inside are oak and cherry woodwork, stained-glass windows and period fireplaces. It is the earliest surviving detached residence by Adler and Sullivan and has no important alterations. The house shows Sullivan's architecture growing out of contemporary historic styles toward a modern approach.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the earliest remaining detached residence by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan. It survives without important alterations and records the transition from period styles to Sullivan's early modern aesthetic. Its formal plan reflects Sullivan's academic training, while its massing and details follow the Queen Anne style.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000695, listed August 17, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 440 Belden St., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | August 17, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000695 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1883-84 |
| Architect / builder | Louis Sullivan; Dankmar Adler (drawings labeled "D. Adler & Co.") |
| Architectural style | Mixed style: generically Queen Anne massing and details with a formal front elevation derived from Sullivan's French training |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, unaltered, on its original site, and used as a private residence. The slate roof is covered with tar paper. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.92401, -87.64032 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000695.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687375
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.