OHC participants line up in front of Cat's Cradle Bed & Breakfast

Have you ever walked by a building and thought,
I wish I could see what's inside?

Now you can.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) is proud to present the third-annual Open House Chicago, a free, city-wide, behind-the-scenes look at many of the city’s great places and spaces.

150 buildings will be open on October 19-20, 2013 (typically from 9am-5pm, check individual site listings for times). Explore repurposed mansions, hidden rooms, sacred spaces, private clubs, iconic theatres, hotels, offices, community murals and more—all for free.

CAF inspires people to discover why design matters. Open House Chicago (OHC) gives you access to buildings that tell the stories of Chicago communities and cultures. By venturing into diverse neighborhoods for self-guided exploration, OHC participants come together to discover community and place.

OHC is completely free-of-charge—no registration or reservations are needed. So gather your friends, plan your itinerary and mark your calendar for October 19-20, 2013!

Download a copy of the 2012 Event Guide here. The 2013 Event Guide will be available in September 2013.

Downloadable Information Sheets from 2012

OHC 2012 Event Guide (printer-friendly PDF)
2012 Guide to Programs at OHC Sites (printer-friendly PDF)
OHC 2012 Family Guide (printer-friendly PDF)

Plan your OHC experience

To browse the OHC sites from 2012, use the site list and map pages of this website or download a copy of the Open House Chicago 2012 Event Guide. This website will be updated with additional information regarding OHC 2013 in the summer. If you have additional questions, please visit our FAQs page.

To receive the latest event updates, sign-up for OHC e-news. CAF members also receive priority access to OHC sites, so join today for an enhanced OHC experience and great year-round benefits.

Are you curious?

Open House Chicago: 150 cool places | 48 hours | Go.

[list of sites] [faqs] [e-news] [membership]

The Chicago Architecture Foundation would like to thank our sponsors and our community partners: