Can’t Make It to the Louvre Museum? Try This Illinois Alternative

Perhaps you’re dreaming of finally taking that big trip to Paris to visit the Louvre Museum, but the stars haven’t quite aligned yet. Lucky for you, we’ve got an alternative right here in Illinois. Chicago is home to some of the world’s most impressive museums. From the iconic Art Institute of Chicago to the Field Museum, residents and visitors alike are spoiled for choice. Yet one museum seems to slide under the radar. Opened in 2008, the Richard H. Driehaus Museum is a little-known spot that offers an impressive collection of art, architecture, and design from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Back in my early 20s, my roommate was an employee at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum. As a result, I got a true insider tour when I paid a visit to the museum. Located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, the museum sits inside a stunningly restored Gilded Age mansion that was originally completed in 1883. The home itself is known as the Nickerson Mansion. The name originates from the original owner of the property, prominent banker Samuel Mayo Nickerson.

I was lucky enough to visit the Richard H. Driehaus Museum around the winter holidays. It was decked out from floor to ceiling in stunning, traditional decor. A massive green garland greeted me in the lobby, and I heard that Santa Claus occasionally makes appearances. Walking into the museum was like stepping into the set of White Christmas. I’m not quite sure how I'd spent my entire life in Chicagoland and had never paid a visit before.

Aside from the impressive holiday decorations, the museum presents a rotating collection of exhibits as well as its permanent collection. The highlight of the collection is the grandiose nautilus shell centerpiece from Tiffany Studios. Other favorites from the collection include a Chickering and Sons grand piano, a Tiffany 18-light lily table lamp, a Gothic-style memorial chandelier, and the Louis Comfort Tiffany candelabrum that was designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Visitors are able to explore eight distinct sections of the Nickerson Mansion. These areas include the main hall, reception room, front parlor, dining room, drawing room, library, Maher Gallery, and the ballroom. I quickly found out that every nook and cranny of this museum is filled with something beautiful to discover. The attention to detail is quite immaculate.

In addition to the physical space, the Richard H. Driehaus Museum frequently offers educational programming. These events include everything from musical acts to lectures and walking tours. Plus, there’s a museum store if you want to pick up a souvenir to remember your visit with. 

Whether you’re a Chicago native or one of our many great visitors, it can be easy to get caught up in the “big ticket” tourist attractions. Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world, and it’s largely because of our many hidden gems like the Richard H. Driehaus Museum. What other lesser-known museums should we check out in the Windy City? Let us know by filling out our nomination form.