Brick of Chicago Walking Tour

Thursday, October 6 (Rescheduled from September 20), 2022

In the years after the Great Chicago Fire, architects like Louis Sullivan deployed brick, stone, and terra cotta as their building materials to keep buildings safe and secure. There’s no better example of that than here at the Nickerson Mansion; they were also used in the nearby Medinah Temple and the Warwick Allerton Hotel. On this tour, you’ll see these buildings and many more that were built with local materials and resources originating at Chicago’s many turn-of-the-century brick makers.

The walk itself will last about an hour. After the walk, we’ll return to the Museum for a Q & A with Quam, and you’ll have a chance to examine brick and terra cotta artifacts from his historic collection.

Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early and check in at the Museum when you arrive.

About the Speaker:

Will Quam is an architecture photographer and historian based in Chicago. His project Brick of Chicago has been featured on CBS, Fox32, WTTW, WGN, Block Club Chicago, ArchDaily, and in many more outlets. His walking tours have been named some of Chicago’s best by Curbed and the Chicago Reader.

Photo Courtesy of Will Quam