Marquette Building
Marquette Building
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural Buildings
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
MacArthur's offices are located in the historic and beautiful Marquette Building, a Chicago landmark and one of the city's first skyscrapers. The building is a classic example of Chicago-style architecture. Designed and built by Holabird & Roche in 1895, it was named for the French Jesuit missionary and explorer Jacques Marquette. In 1975, Banker's Life and Casualty Company, owned by John D. MacArthur, acquired the Marquette Building, and in 1976 it was named a National Historic Landmark. After his death in 1978, the building became the headquarters for the Foundation which bears his name. In 2001, MacArthur undertook an extensive restoration of the building, working closely with preservation specialists to return the interior and exterior to its original splendor. There is a free exhibit in the building's arcade, just west of the lobby, at 140 South Dearborn Street. Interactive kiosks detail the building's design, history, and renovation. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. The Chicago Architecture Foundation provides scheduled tours of the building.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown / The Loop
Often visitors' first stop in Chicago, The Loop is a good starting point to sample the city's energy and flavor. This central business district boasts Michelin-rated restaurants, upscale hotels, premier shopping, and enough arresting architecture to keep your camera busy for hours. You won’t find too many photo galleries of downtown Chicago without a shot of Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. A stunning skyline coupled with cultural attractions like the Art Institute of Chicago present a Downtown where work and play peacefully coexist.
How to get there
- Monroe • 1 min walk
- Jackson • 2 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
58 reviews
Excellent
38
Very good
18
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
William K
3 contributions
Sept 2022 • Friends
The Marquette Building reflects exceptional Terra cotta architecture with a wonderful exhibit in the lobby detailing Chicago's high rise history. Take the time to study the photos and writeups to better appreciate Chicago's unique place in architectural design. The lobby's Tiffany mosaic is awe inspiring.
Written 6 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Potomac_11
Potomac, MD472 contributions
June 2024 • Couples
This historical building is definitely worth checking out if you are walking in The Loop. We enjoyed the Tiffany murals. This trip to Chicago we took the river architecture tour; next time the walking one is on our agenda for sure.
Written 5 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luvs2TravelAnywhere
New York City, NY7,170 contributions
Apr 2016
The Marquette Building was not on my architecture tour, but I had read about the building and stopped into the lobby which is free. The lobby is gorgeous!
Written 11 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ross F
Highland Park, IL752 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
This is one of my favorite little-known Chicago buildings. The lobby is terrific - with the 360-degree historic mosaics and busts above the elevators. It's worth a quick ten-minute visit.
Written 30 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China178,366 contributions
May 2023
The Marquette is a historic building located on S. Dearborn St. It was constructed in 1895 and named after Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette who explored the area that later became Chicago in 1674. The building is 16 stories and considered a masterpiece of Chicago-style architecture. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places (1973) and designated as a National Historic Landmark (1976).
For architecture buffs, there is a free permanent exhibition on the ground floor where you can learn about the design and history of the Marquette. Exhibition opening hours are 7am to 10pm daily. There are lobby mosaics worth seeing in the lobby and the exterior of the building is nice to view as well. The column embedded facade and reliefs above the building entrance doors are particularly interesting.
For architecture buffs, there is a free permanent exhibition on the ground floor where you can learn about the design and history of the Marquette. Exhibition opening hours are 7am to 10pm daily. There are lobby mosaics worth seeing in the lobby and the exterior of the building is nice to view as well. The column embedded facade and reliefs above the building entrance doors are particularly interesting.
Written 21 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David H
Montpelier, VT108 contributions
Dec 2019
While visiting with my sister, we took a stroll onto Dearborn Street. She suggested we take a look at the mosaics at the Marquette Building. Its design was overseen by Owen Aldis in 1895 after reading the diaries of a Jesuit priest, known as Father Jacques Marquette. The work depicted portrays the Jesuit p.o.v. but attempts to make the indigenous tribes in part noble. Worth the time.
Written 30 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
klhchicago
Chicago, IL112 contributions
June 2019 • Friends
The Marquette building is a great snap shot of Chicago's history with architecture. Walk into the lobby and get a brochure from the attendant or simply read the descriptions of Native Americans, French explorer Father Marquette, and much more. There are bronze reliefs and mosaics which are beautiful as well as much of the decoration of the lobby by famous architects William Holabird and Martin Roche. Walk into the back and there is architecture exhibits which explain more about the architecture of some past and present buildings in the city. If you don't want to take an architecture tour but want to learn a little bit without too much time and no money invested this is a great little pit stop
Written 2 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,478 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Chicago is known for its steakhouses, hot dog stands and pizza parlors. it also is known for its architecture and skyscrapers. Frank Lloyd Wright worked here. So did Louis Sullivan and D.H. Burnham. One memorable structure, the Marquette Building, is considered an architectural masterpiece. Completed in 1895, at the northwest corner of Dearborn Street and Adams Street, it was designed by architects William Holabird and Martin Roche and was one of the early steel frame skyscrapers of its day. It also is considered one of the best examples of the Chicago School of Architecture and is noted for its then cutting edge frame and its ornate interior. The building is constructed around a central light court and features an ornate, two-story lobby. The ensemble of mosaics, sculptures and bronze of the entry and interior honors Father Jacques Marquette's 1674-75 expedition. He was the first European settler in Chicago. The mosaics are by Louis Comfort Tiffany and contain panels of lustered Tiffany glass, mother-of-pearl and semi-precious stones. In 2007, a free interactive audio visual exhibit was opened to the public on the first floor, detailing the history of the building and its contribution to Chicago architecture. The Marquette Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, listed as a Chicago Landmark in 1975 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
Written 2 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben B
Calgary, Canada14,137 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Our excellent guide on the river cruise suggested just going into buildings that intrigue you, either the new ones or the older ones. Lobbies are almost always for the public, and if there are staff around, just ask if you can take pictures. I did this waiting for my tour of the Rookery Building, and checked out the gorgeous lobby of this building. It is one of the earlier steel-framed buildings, and the art in lobby honours Father Jacques Marquette's 1674-5 expedition - he was the first westerner to explore this area. The mosaics are particularly beautiful, and are respectful tributes to the Native leaders of the day.
Written 11 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IAN D
Wigan, UK26,336 contributions
Sept 2018 • Solo
This was the most beautiful foyer I went in in all the buildings I visited. The colours of the mosiac is fabulous.
Written 8 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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