Nickerson, Samuel, House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1883 at 40 East Erie Street in Chicago, this three-story mansion was commissioned by Samuel Nickerson, a founder and long-time president of the First National Bank and a trustee of the Art Institute. Edward Burling of Burling and Whitehouse designed it, with A. Fiedler responsible for woodwork and alabaster stair railings. Brick bearing walls are faced in light grey sandstone, but the interior is the main attraction: the main hall and upper hall are decorated with more than eight varieties of marble, onyx and alabaster, along with inlaid floors, leather-covered walls and carved wood. A gallery built for Nickerson's paintings was enlarged in 1900-01 for the second owner, Lucius Fisher, to a design by George Maher. The house is valued as a well-preserved example of High Victorian wealth in Chicago and as one of few remaining residences by Burling.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of the wealthiest High Victorian homes in Chicago, notable above all for its lavish marble, onyx, alabaster and wood interior. It is also one of the few surviving residences by Edward Burling, an architect important to Chicago's pre-fire development.
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 76000700, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 40 E. Erie, Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000700 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Edward Burling of Burling and Whitehouse; A. Fiedler (woodwork, alabaster stair railings); George Maher (1900-01 gallery extension) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, privately owned by the American College of Surgeons and leased to a production company; interior described as maintained with virtually no alteration. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.89400, -87.62682 (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 76000700.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7028434
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.