Chicago Open House: Chicago’s Best Kept Secret

Chicago

Jul 3

October is the best time of year. The weather is cool, the leaves are changing colors, and Chicago hosts their best annual event - the Chicago Open House. Hundreds of sites all over the city open up over one weekend. You can go into old historical homes, hotels, and office buildings downtown. All for free.

I’ve been attending the Chicago Open House for years now. A great way to make sure you’re getting the most out of it is to look through the sites on their website. Each year is different and not every site participates every year.

I like to go through the site list by neighborhood. I’m a sucker for skyline views, so I like to stick to downtown. Then, I click the sites I'm interested in and look at the times they’re open, and also what floors are open. Some sites are only open on one day instead of two, and some close earlier than others. There are also some office buildings downtown that only let you in the lobby, so I usually skip those. It’s good to be aware of so you don’t get your hopes up and walk all the way to a site that won’t let you up.

The last time I attended, I went with some work friends - one of which is also a photographer. We had a great time checking out different sites and getting some food after. Our unanimous favorite was the BMO building. We were more than 40 stories high and it was a 360 degree view of the entire city. It was absolutely breathtaking!

We also really enjoyed the offices in 333 S Wabash. There were 2 decks on different sides that overlooked Michigan Avenue. It was awesome!

If you’re planning a trip to Chicago, October is the month to go! You can take advantage of the Chicago Open House and get to explore the city more personally. It’s also great weather, not too crowded, and really just a perfect time.