Baha’i Temple, Wilmette, IL
Those in the Chicago area are familiar with the Baha’i Temple, though most probably know nothing about the religion itself. We’ve discovered that it’s a gorgeous building that makes for a pleasant visit to spend a short time roaming its gardens and appreciating its intricate stonework.
It began with the purchase of a couple of plots of land along Lake Michigan in 1907, north of Chicago, in the town of Wilmette. The project was already delayed because individual contributions funded it, but the Baha’i Temple was further held up by the two World Wars and the Great Depression. The foundation stone was laid in 1920, and construction ended with the temple’s formal dedication in 1953.
6 thoughts on “11 US Places Only Locals Know About”
Once on the Victoria Beach, do you walk north or south along the beach to the tower?
OMG my school, the Fashion Institute of Technology took us here as field trip, I guess. I graduated in 1979. It was an art history course.
Interesting tidbits of information about each of these “finds” for those who travel around our country !
Huell Howser of Calgold once did a whole segment on this. Fascinating!
Discovered this place with a friend and Tourguide colleague, while touring downtown LA. I bought several books then.
During covid, they found a way to remain in business, by going online, which made me feel better, because I love the building and the store. Right across is an old building dating from the beginning of the Cinema, where stars like Charles Chaplin used to stay and they now have a French Restaurant, which I hope remained in business during covid. Too many Los Angelinos, don’t even know that part of Los Angeles where the Movie Industry really took off after escaping the Monopoly of Thomas Edison, with the silent version of the Count of Monte Christo.
An Iconic monument to visit.
I lived in Wilmette in 1966.
Chet Zaneski