Krause Music Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1922 at 4611 North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago's Lincoln Square, this two-story brick building with a basement was commissioned by William and Olga Krause as a music store with a family apartment above. Architect William Presto designed it and brought in Louis Sullivan to design the front. The pale green terra cotta facade has curvilinear plant forms, a checkered tile mosaic spelling the name Krause, and a tall cartouche bearing the letter K. The nomination describes it as Sullivan's last work, and an example of his organic approach to ornament. The store became a funeral home in 1929. Later owners changed the display window, doors and upper windows, and the facade was damaged by cleaning. About 1990 a new owner restored the front, replacing the window and doors and uncovering the leaded glass windows. The property was listed for its architecture and was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1977.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion C for architecture. Its terra cotta facade is an example of Louis Sullivan's organic ornament and was his last work, out of 126 buildings he designed. The facade frames the display window and is topped by a large cartouche.
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 06000452, listed May 31, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4611 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | May 31, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000452 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922 |
| Architect / builder | Sullivan, Louis; Presto, William |
| Architectural style | Late 19th Century and early 20th Century American Movements/Sullivanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as work in progress; the facade was restored about 1990 after earlier alterations. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1977. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.96736, -87.68629 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 06000452.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2388182
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.