General admission to the museum includes a self-guided tour of the 3-story mansion that transports visitors back to Chicago around the turn of the 20th century. Highlights include the domed stained-glass ceiling and showstopping fireplace in the first-floor gallery, Romanesque sculptures in the library, and an Islamic-inspired smoking room with blue Moorish tiles off the main hall.
In addition to the permanent collection of period furnishings and artworks, the museum hosts rotating special exhibits that are seamlessly integrated into the decor. Highly recommended docent-led tours are available for a small additional fee and cover the mansion’s history and must-see design elements.