Orchestra Hall
Why it's listed
Orchestra Hall is a concert building on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, built in 1904 to a design by Daniel Burnham. Its fan-shaped auditorium seats 2,566 across the ground floor, boxes, balcony and gallery, with a ballroom behind three large arched windows. The Georgian facade carries the names of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Wagner. It was built for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1891 by Theodore Thomas, after civic leaders raised funds to give the orchestra a home of its own rather than renting space in the Auditorium. Thomas praised the acoustics after the first rehearsals. The building has remained the orchestra's only home. In 1907-08 the Cliff Dwellers Club, designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw, was added on the roof, where Louis Sullivan wrote his autobiography. A 1966 rehabilitation by Harry Weese and Associates left the hall, ballroom and facade essentially unchanged.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant in music as the only home the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has ever had, with a pleasant setting and good acoustics. It is also architecturally significant as a sober Georgian design by Daniel Burnham that suited its civic purpose and its Michigan Avenue setting. The Cliff Dwellers Club addition, designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw, housed artists and hosted Louis Sullivan in his final years.
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 78001127, listed March 21, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | March 21, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001127 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1999 |
| Architect / builder | Daniel H. Burnham and Co.; Howard Van Doren Shaw (Cliff Dwellers Club addition) |
| Architectural style | Georgian or Colonial style |
| Areas of significance | Performing Arts, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated April 19, 1994 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as the home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; the hall, ballroom and facade were renewed and left unchanged in a 1966 rehabilitation by Harry Weese and Associates. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.87903, -87.62491 (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 78001127.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2154167
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.