Open House Chicago (OHC) is a free weekend festival held each year in Chicago that allows participants to visit dozens of buildings that are not typically open to the public. OHC is organized by the Chicago Architecture Foundation over a two-day period in mid-October. The event promotes appreciation of architecture by the general public.
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OHC began in 2011 and it is part of a worldwide network of Open House events that started with Open House London in 1992. Its organizers state that event objectives include enabling participants to “venture into new neighborhoods, learn the stories of Chicago’s architecture and experience the diversity and culture of each community.” OHC is an important event for tourism in Chicago. Funding for the event comes from the Chicago Architecture Foundation and from corporate sponsors, government agencies, foundations, and individual donors. The event relies on approximately 1,500 volunteers to staff participating buildings.
Dates and attendance
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Sites
Sites include spaces inside historic and architecturally significant buildings that aren't generally open to the public, including historic mansions, Frank Lloyd Wright homes, theaters, skyscrapers, exclusive private clubs, opulent hotel ballrooms and suites, rooftops, industrial sites and innovative design/architecture offices.
Annual highlights include Tribune Tower, Kemper Building (Chicago), Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Fine Arts Building, Chicago Board of Trade Building, The Rookery, Aon Center, Chicago Temple Building, Emil Bach House, Elks National Memorial, New Regal Theater and more.