Old Chicago Historical Society Building
historic place
The Old Chicago Historical Society Building, a historic place in Cook County, Illinois, stands at 632 North Dearborn Street, at the northwest corner of Dearborn and Ontario streets. It was built in 1892. Architect Henry Ives Cobb designed this granite-clad structure. The building is considered an example of Richardsonian Romanesque or Romanesque Revival architecture. The Chicago Historical Society occupied this building until 1931. Its granite construction was a response to the Society's need for a fireproof facility. After the Historical Society moved, the building housed the Institute of Design and later served as recording studios for blues and rock n' roll performers. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1997. This site is significant for its architecture and its role in Chicago's cultural history.