This museum could be so much more than it is. The house is beautiful, and worth seeing! The stories and history behind it are wonderful. We paid extra for the tour with a guide, and that's where it really fell flat (although it could have just been our guide). While the tour of the first floor had some interesting tidbits about the design and function of the rooms, the second floor has little to no furniture in it, and instead is full of art and posters (which is not what we went to see). Our guide spent way too much time talking about each poster and artist while we would have preferred to hear more about the house. The things he did say about the house that were interesting were all printed on small sign stands, so save the extra money and give yourself the tour!

Marysa SemprebonJan 15, 2018

What a little gem! If you enjoy the American Gilded Age art and architecture, you will adore this wonderful restored mansion house. With exhibits that change throughout the year, there is always something fabulous to see. The restoration is magnificent. The guides are professional and knowledgeable. Stay as long as you like. Gift shop is really fun as well, with little treasures and a sizable book selection that focuses on the Gilded Age.

Noel HoughtonDec 21, 2017

Tours are offered daily & are informative. The museum is clear of dust, thank you! Staff is welcoming and will give you directions or suggestions about the immediate area if you're trying to go see/do/eat someplace after visiting the museum.

Sumy GuzmanFeb 10, 2018

A lot of the old furniture is gone. The pay to tour is a bit much for little amount of things to see in the house. I came with the intentions to see a historic site, to see how the house looked when the occupants were living there. Nope, instead you get a few poor art prices, a nice sculpture, and bare empty space.

Brandon JosephJan 31, 2018

Fascinating architecture, dense detail, history living in front of your eyes. Loved this museum. We found it by accident filling out activities for our last day in town. To think we might have missed this!!

Will ThompsonJan 13, 2018

We had a wonderful time touring this amazing building. Such beautiful rooms filled with wondrous furnishings one can only be in awe of. Enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. Audrey at the admission desk was so friendly, great representation of the place.

Pamela KnightMar 23, 2018

I loved this place but found one fault. I came with a small tour. Apparently, our group did not pay for a docent tour of the house, which I did not know. I asked a couple of questions and received stern faced answers. I walked too near a docent led tour and was scolded. A smarter group would have offered our group an upcharge to have a docent even though our group leader declined since time may not have permitted. The way our tour was set up, we met at Dries House for an introduction, went on a walking tour of the neighborhood, then returned to tour the mansion. Lunch was scheduled before the tour of the mansion. I returned with a closed box and was twice scolded for the presence of food. The box was never opened; I was merely carrying because we had no access to our bus to store it. It turns out, I could leave it in coat check. But it took an unkind exchange to get that information. I didn't care to be chewed out and treated rudely.

K BergeronMar 31, 2018

Must see for anyone who enjoys historic homes. Go to admire the leaded glass dome, the intricate wood mouldings, the textured ceramic tiles, sculptures, paintings and art objets. The special exhibits are always worth seeing. Tours are an additional $5 per person over general admission, which is $20. Slightly lower student and senior rates. Metered parking on-street or there are several nearby parking garages. The museum is a short walk from the Red line Chicago Avenue stop.

Louise GruenbergApr 30, 2018

This was an interesting site to visit. The staff at the museum were very helpful, attentive, and enthusiastic to be at work. The museum is not huge, however, it was enough to take about an hour to go through. For most, I think I would recommend the guided tour.

Alan BabilińskiMay 6, 2018

If you only had time for 1 museum visit In Chicago then make it this one. It perfectly evokes the “gilded age” of Chicagoan society, when a family’s wealth was ostentatiously displayed in the furnishings and decor of the home. Stunning detail in the carved wainscoting and ceiling ornamentation. Exquisite furnishings such as tables, lamps, fireplaces - all by master craftsmen and representing the very best of that age. Part of the museum is taken up with an interesting history of chair design.

Walter PattersonJul 10, 2018

Great tour of the "marble palace". Very interesting to learn so much in this amazingly well-preserved & historic home.

Mary McGillicuddyJul 1, 2018

Excellent place for turn of the century history of Chicago. Staff very helpfull. Location great , easy walkfrom main part of city

Malcolm RosboroughJul 4, 2018

So much awe. Lots of wonder. Honestly, most people don't REALLY get it. They say wow, or nice, or I don't have this at home ... Chuckles. Walk in. Just look. Let your senses feel almost a different world. This place was a family home, people bustled through it with important lives, the realty is an extension of their souls, if not the people that owned it, then the people who cared for it, leaving to the people that care for it now. It's hard to vision this house how it'd have been used, seeing it a museum now - invent your world to imagine yourself there. So many nooks. Amazing layout. This place is very special. I'm very lucky to have experienced how intensely it resonated with me.

Michael ChapmanAug 9, 2018

An unexpected museum. We never knew this museum was hidden away but we are glad we stopped in. They offer a self tour and guided tour. We opted for the self tour and roamed around. It was a fascinating step back in time. The architecture and preservation was incredible. There is a lot to see and so much to learn in one visit. Definitely recommend a stop in if you're out of town but especially if you live in the city.

D3nnis PlsonAug 13, 2018

Driehaus Museum - Get Ready to Be Astonished The Driehaus Museum is a hidden gem. The twenty-five thousand square foot, gilded-age home of Samuel Mayo Nickerson was built after the great Chicago fire of 1871. It is decorated in the Aesthetic Style - which was a design movement advocating more is more. The eclectic ornamentation throughout the house is almost overwhelming, but in a good way. We paid $20 for admission and $5 more for a docent tour - definitely worth the money. We came to Chicago to experience its art and architecture. This was, without a doubt, a highlight of our trip.

John BergerJul 30, 2018

Perhaps the most beautiful, historically significant way to spend a few hours in Chicago. The Museum is actually a restored mansion from the late 19th century that houses an extensive collection of decorative arts. Tours and audio guides are available. Each of the three floors are staffed by knowledgeable guides. The gift shop itself is worth an extended visit. A fee is required for entrance, so be sure to allow enough time to become thoroughly immersed in this place from another time.

Donald MitchellAug 12, 2018

This museum could be so much more than it is. The house is beautiful, and worth seeing! The stories and history behind it are wonderful. We paid extra for the tour with a guide, and that's where it really fell flat (although it could have just been our guide). While the tour of the first floor had some interesting tidbits about the design and function of the rooms, the second floor has little to no furniture in it, and instead is full of art and posters (which is not what we went to see). Our guide spent way too much time talking about each poster and artist while we would have preferred to hear more about the house. The things he did say about the house that were interesting were all printed on small sign stands, so save the extra money and give yourself the tour!

Marysa SemprebonJan 15, 2018

What a little gem! If you enjoy the American Gilded Age art and architecture, you will adore this wonderful restored mansion house. With exhibits that change throughout the year, there is always something fabulous to see. The restoration is magnificent. The guides are professional and knowledgeable. Stay as long as you like. Gift shop is really fun as well, with little treasures and a sizable book selection that focuses on the Gilded Age.

Noel HoughtonDec 21, 2017

Tours are offered daily & are informative. The museum is clear of dust, thank you! Staff is welcoming and will give you directions or suggestions about the immediate area if you're trying to go see/do/eat someplace after visiting the museum.

Sumy GuzmanFeb 10, 2018

A lot of the old furniture is gone. The pay to tour is a bit much for little amount of things to see in the house. I came with the intentions to see a historic site, to see how the house looked when the occupants were living there. Nope, instead you get a few poor art prices, a nice sculpture, and bare empty space.

Brandon JosephJan 31, 2018

Fascinating architecture, dense detail, history living in front of your eyes. Loved this museum. We found it by accident filling out activities for our last day in town. To think we might have missed this!!

Will ThompsonJan 13, 2018

We had a wonderful time touring this amazing building. Such beautiful rooms filled with wondrous furnishings one can only be in awe of. Enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. Audrey at the admission desk was so friendly, great representation of the place.

Pamela KnightMar 23, 2018

I loved this place but found one fault. I came with a small tour. Apparently, our group did not pay for a docent tour of the house, which I did not know. I asked a couple of questions and received stern faced answers. I walked too near a docent led tour and was scolded. A smarter group would have offered our group an upcharge to have a docent even though our group leader declined since time may not have permitted. The way our tour was set up, we met at Dries House for an introduction, went on a walking tour of the neighborhood, then returned to tour the mansion. Lunch was scheduled before the tour of the mansion. I returned with a closed box and was twice scolded for the presence of food. The box was never opened; I was merely carrying because we had no access to our bus to store it. It turns out, I could leave it in coat check. But it took an unkind exchange to get that information. I didn't care to be chewed out and treated rudely.

K BergeronMar 31, 2018

Must see for anyone who enjoys historic homes. Go to admire the leaded glass dome, the intricate wood mouldings, the textured ceramic tiles, sculptures, paintings and art objets. The special exhibits are always worth seeing. Tours are an additional $5 per person over general admission, which is $20. Slightly lower student and senior rates. Metered parking on-street or there are several nearby parking garages. The museum is a short walk from the Red line Chicago Avenue stop.

Louise GruenbergApr 30, 2018

This was an interesting site to visit. The staff at the museum were very helpful, attentive, and enthusiastic to be at work. The museum is not huge, however, it was enough to take about an hour to go through. For most, I think I would recommend the guided tour.

Alan BabilińskiMay 6, 2018

If you only had time for 1 museum visit In Chicago then make it this one. It perfectly evokes the “gilded age” of Chicagoan society, when a family’s wealth was ostentatiously displayed in the furnishings and decor of the home. Stunning detail in the carved wainscoting and ceiling ornamentation. Exquisite furnishings such as tables, lamps, fireplaces - all by master craftsmen and representing the very best of that age. Part of the museum is taken up with an interesting history of chair design.

Walter PattersonJul 10, 2018

Great tour of the "marble palace". Very interesting to learn so much in this amazingly well-preserved & historic home.

Mary McGillicuddyJul 1, 2018

Excellent place for turn of the century history of Chicago. Staff very helpfull. Location great , easy walkfrom main part of city

Malcolm RosboroughJul 4, 2018

So much awe. Lots of wonder. Honestly, most people don't REALLY get it. They say wow, or nice, or I don't have this at home ... Chuckles. Walk in. Just look. Let your senses feel almost a different world. This place was a family home, people bustled through it with important lives, the realty is an extension of their souls, if not the people that owned it, then the people who cared for it, leaving to the people that care for it now. It's hard to vision this house how it'd have been used, seeing it a museum now - invent your world to imagine yourself there. So many nooks. Amazing layout. This place is very special. I'm very lucky to have experienced how intensely it resonated with me.

Michael ChapmanAug 9, 2018

An unexpected museum. We never knew this museum was hidden away but we are glad we stopped in. They offer a self tour and guided tour. We opted for the self tour and roamed around. It was a fascinating step back in time. The architecture and preservation was incredible. There is a lot to see and so much to learn in one visit. Definitely recommend a stop in if you're out of town but especially if you live in the city.

D3nnis PlsonAug 13, 2018

Driehaus Museum - Get Ready to Be Astonished The Driehaus Museum is a hidden gem. The twenty-five thousand square foot, gilded-age home of Samuel Mayo Nickerson was built after the great Chicago fire of 1871. It is decorated in the Aesthetic Style - which was a design movement advocating more is more. The eclectic ornamentation throughout the house is almost overwhelming, but in a good way. We paid $20 for admission and $5 more for a docent tour - definitely worth the money. We came to Chicago to experience its art and architecture. This was, without a doubt, a highlight of our trip.

John BergerJul 30, 2018

Perhaps the most beautiful, historically significant way to spend a few hours in Chicago. The Museum is actually a restored mansion from the late 19th century that houses an extensive collection of decorative arts. Tours and audio guides are available. Each of the three floors are staffed by knowledgeable guides. The gift shop itself is worth an extended visit. A fee is required for entrance, so be sure to allow enough time to become thoroughly immersed in this place from another time.

Donald MitchellAug 12, 2018