After a fire destroyed its church around 1900, a Unitarian Universalist congregation asked one of its members, Frank Lloyd Wright, to design an affordable replacement. Using poured concrete with metal reinforcements—a necessity due to a small $40,000 budget—Wright created a building that, on the outside, seems as forbidding as a mausoleum, but inside contains all the elements of the Prairie School that has made Wright’s name immortal. Wright believed conventional church architecture was overpowering—he complained that he didn’t feel a part of the Gothic-style cathedral across the street, for example—and Unity Temple was intended to offer a new model for houses of worship. Today, it’s the only remaining public building from his Prairie period. It’s worth the extra dollars for the guided tour, where the docent explains why Unity Temple still feels groundbreaking 100 years later—and why Wright would consider that the ultimate compliment. Allow an hour.
Chicago› Attraction
Unity Temple
875 Lake St , Oak Park, IL 60301
Our Rating
Hours
Mon–Sat 9am–3:15pm; Closed Sun, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day
Phone
312/994-4000
Prices
Admission for guided tours $18 adults, $15 seniors and students, free for children 3 and under. Self-guided tours $12 adults, $9 students & seniors, free for children 3 and under
Web site
Unity Temple
Other
Church events can alter schedule; call in advance
Map
875 Lake St Oak Park IL 60301 ChicagoNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.