150 S. Cottage Hill Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126

Elmhurst Art Museum - McCormick House

Historical Value

In 1952, the renowned modern architect Mies van der Rohe was commissioned this elegant glass home in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst for Robert Hall McCormick and his family. Built as only one of three single-family homes in the U.S. by the famous architect, it is a rare and priceless work that exemplifies a Miesian more mature style.

Additionally, it was built to be an example for a proposed group of smaller, affordable mass-produced modular homes in the western Chicago suburbs that McCormick and co-developer Herbert S. Greenwald were planning to build. However, the blue prints for the buildings were considered too high-end and didn’t receive the interest for buyers to invest and begin construction.

In 1994 the house was lifted and moved via truck from its original location at 299 Prospect Avenue to its current home at 150 Cottage Hill Avenue. A long glass hallway was added to connect both structures in 1997 making the McCormick House’s original entrance less visible, almost hidden in the back, therefore not emphasizing its importance.

After many years, the museum decided to separate the buildings to better highlight the house as its own exceptional structure.

Programs

Elmhurst Art Museum Programming

Upcoming Spring Events:

April 7- Virtual Book Discussion

High-Risers in Cabrini-Green and The Fate of American Public Housing

April 8- Virtual Artist Talk

There Is Black Housing In The Future: exhibiting artists Alisha Wormsley and Ayanah Moor will talk about their remarkable installation on the black housing crisis and raise awareness on this timely topic.

Ongoing Programming:

Community art classes
School Tours
Museum at Home / Self-guided exhibitions tours online

Kids
•Drawing and Cartooning
•Painting
•Clay
• Mixed Media
•Youth Ceramics
•Let’s Start with Art

Teens and Adults
•Drawing and Cartooning for Teens
•Drawing Studio
•Life Drawing
• Painting
•Watercolor

Teen Art Council
Students are encouraged to become motivated game-changers, find their own creative voices by working directly with museum professionals. They gain collaborative, leadership skills, time management by planning their own events and projects. It’s their space to express themselves and brainstorm together on ideas that could impact their community positively