Richard H. Driehaus Museum

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum is one of Chicago's hidden gems, a sumptuously restored Gilded Age mansion that offers an immersive glimpse into the opulent world of America's late-19th-century elite. Housed in the magnificent 1883 Nickerson Mansion (once dubbed the 'Marble Palace' for its lavish use of marble, onyx, and exotic woods), the museum painstakingly recreates the grandeur of the era, with richly decorated rooms, stained glass, intricate woodwork, and a renowned collection of decorative arts, including a dazzling array of Tiffany glass and furnishings. Every surface drips with craftsmanship, evoking the wealth and taste of Chicago's industrial-age tycoons.

It's a beautifully presented, intimate museum that art, design, and history lovers adore, far quieter than Chicago's blockbuster institutions. Located just off the Magnificent Mile in the Near North Side, it's an easy and rewarding stop. Guided and self-guided visits are available. Allow about an hour to soak up the splendour of this perfectly preserved mansion.

Don't miss

• The opulent 1883 Nickerson 'Marble Palace' mansion
• Lavish Gilded Age interiors and craftsmanship
• A renowned Tiffany glass collection
• Stained glass, onyx, and exotic woodwork
• An intimate, uncrowded museum off the Magnificent Mile

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How travelers rate it

Know before you go

• It's a perfectly restored Gilded Age mansion, every surface is lavish.
• Don't miss the renowned Tiffany glass collection.
• A quiet gem, far less crowded than Chicago's big museums.
• It's just off the Magnificent Mile, easy to combine with shopping.

A bit of history

The mansion was built in 1883 for banker Samuel Nickerson and became famed for its extravagant interiors. After serving various uses, it was restored by collector and philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus and opened as a museum in 2008, dedicated to Gilded Age art, architecture, and design.