Notre Dame de Chicago
Also known as: Notre Dame de Chicago Roman Catholic Church
Why it's listed
Notre Dame de Chicago is a Roman Catholic church at 1338 West Flournoy Street, built for the city's French community. Its basement church was dedicated in 1889 and the main church in 1892. Architect Gregoire Vigeant, born in Quebec, designed the Milwaukee gray brick building on a Greek cross plan, with hipped roofs, a central dome, a lantern and a tall statue of the Virgin. Inside are Sienna marble, mosaic floors, Corinthian columns and 33 European stained glass windows donated by French parishioners. The church was listed for two reasons. Architecturally, it shows the move from Victorian and Gothic Revival toward Romanesque Revival, given a French character through its plan, domes and vertical sweep. Historically, it succeeded earlier French parish churches, beginning with St. Louis Church, and is described as the best surviving landmark of Chicago's French population. Lightning damaged the dome in 1978, and water damage affected the plaster and frescoes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is architecturally significant as a Romanesque Revival design with a distinctly French interpretation, drawing on French Renaissance ideas rather than Richardsonian Romanesque. It is also called the best surviving landmark of Chicago's French community, and the only surviving French monument in the city.
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 79000826, listed March 7, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1338 W. Flournoy St., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | March 7, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000826 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899; 1888-1934 |
| Architect / builder | Gregoire Vigeant |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival with French Renaissance influence |
| Areas of significance | European, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in religious use; a June 1978 lightning strike damaged the main dome and statue, with water damage to the plaster ceiling, wiring and frescoes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Chicago Park Boulevard System Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.87345, -87.66090 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79000826.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7063482
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.