The Rookery Building
The Rookery Building
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural Buildings
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
About
The Rookery tours are not available at this time. (Updated 6/2/20) Set in the heart of Chicago’s financial district, Daniel Burnham and John Root’s 1888 Rookery Building is a Chicago landmark, containing one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most dramatic interior compositions – a luminous and brilliantly articulated central light court. In 1905, Wright was commissioned to remodel the Rookery light court and lobbies. He realized a stunning balance between Burnham & Root’s ornamental ironwork and his own vision to create a spectacular environment. Morning and afternoon guided tours are offered by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Monday through Friday. Learn about the building’s fascinating history and the unique contribution of one of America’s greatest architects.
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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
- Quincy • 3 min walk
- Jackson • 3 min walk
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3,267 within 3 miles
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1,021 within 6 miles
See what travellers are saying
- joaniemariaEldridge, Iowa5,077 contributionsWe enjoyed taking this tour. Beautiful architecture.We booked a tour on a weekday to see this hidden gem. We enjoyed the stories and information about the Rookery. The staircase is the star here. The lobby is beautiful architecture highlighting Frank Lloyd Wright’s design. There is a small FLW store here, too. It is worth a look.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 25 April 2024
- Potomac_11Potomac, Maryland457 contributionsArchitectural GemThis building is an architectural gem. The design is grand and harmonious. Every detail is exquisite. Chicago has a great tradition of architecture, and this is one of the most important buildings there. Unfortunately, you are not permitted to go beyond the lobby/atrium.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 July 2024
- Eva TUnited Kingdom4,579 contributionsWonderful architectureWe put this building on our places to visit when we did plan our visit to the city. We were able to see only wonderful light court which is the two floors lobby with white marble with gold pattern. This was result of building redesigning in 1907 and which is hiding the original copper-plated ironwork from 1888. Just watch the details from the floor to the ceiling - work of art. We loved it.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 August 2024
- xcschlrMilwaukee, Wisconsin816 contributionsEnjoyable quick stopoverWe stopped at this building on our way to the train station and spent about 10 minutes in the building. The interior is indeed pretty and worth taking a look. Plus, it’s free to enter the building and talk around on the 1st floor and 2nd floor where businesses are located.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 31 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
416 reviews
Excellent
264
Very good
122
Average
21
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5
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4
Keenomanjaro
Croydon, UK179 contributions
Aug 2019
We popped into this famous old building as we happened to be passing by, and found ourselves in a stunning lobby that was remodelled by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905. Known as the Light Court, it's a remarkable space full of intricate metal work and dominated by the sky-lit ceiling, designed to maximise natural light in the inner office spaces. The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust have an office in the building where you can pick up additional information on the building and I believe they organise tours as well. A must for fans of historic buildings/architecture and well worth a quick look if you happen to be passing by.
Written 13 January 2020
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.
teatour_karen
Los Angeles, CA135 contributions
Feb 2020
I knew I was going to like this space, as spaces by FLW are special (detail, human scale, complex volumes and massing), but nothing prepared me for the delightful beauty. I was wowed, as was my friend who knows less about architecture. It's a must-see for anyone who likes aesthetic things (who doesn't right? but some do more than others).
It has a FLW foundation shop inside, among others. Also, one block south of this building we found a great coffee shop called Mojo. Get a drink and take it with you to the Rookery. Delightful.
It has a FLW foundation shop inside, among others. Also, one block south of this building we found a great coffee shop called Mojo. Get a drink and take it with you to the Rookery. Delightful.
Written 20 February 2020
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.
kleic
San Antonio, TX1,085 contributions
Jun 2021
My cousin and I dipped into this wondrous place in Chicago's Financial District one afternoon recently and I really was just blown away even though all we got to see was the lobby and first floor. If you're interested in Chicago history or Frank Lloyd Wright, there are tours offered through the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust that will get you into the Light Court and Daniel Burnham's fabled Library (where he and other architects met to the plan the 1883 Columbia World Exposition -- read Devil in the White City if you're curious!) if you plan ahead. Next time I definitely will!
Written 25 June 2021
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.
SwellSpinster
Columbus, OH19 contributions
Dec 2021 • Solo
This is beautiful and interesting building gets a lot of write-ups on tourism sites, but keep in mind unless you work there, or take a tour, you aren't going to be able to see anything except the first floor. You can book these tours thru the FLW Foundation on the first floor, but they were closed when I went. (Maybe because of Covid?)
There are signs posted everywhere stating "no visitors allowed past lobby" and the security people weren't exactly friendly (apparently can't be bothered to say hello when someone says it to them). You are allowed to take photographs inside of the building, however.
I wasn't able to get to see the famous spiral staircase up close since it begins on the second floor of the Rookery. Don't miss checking out the elevator doors, which have bird figures engraved on them!
There are signs posted everywhere stating "no visitors allowed past lobby" and the security people weren't exactly friendly (apparently can't be bothered to say hello when someone says it to them). You are allowed to take photographs inside of the building, however.
I wasn't able to get to see the famous spiral staircase up close since it begins on the second floor of the Rookery. Don't miss checking out the elevator doors, which have bird figures engraved on them!
Written 7 January 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.
Leslie M
10 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
At some point in my trip planning I was told you didn't need to get advance reservations. This perhaps is true usually but this was the weekend of the Frank Lloyd Wright Housewalk so there was a lot of interest in the building. To be safe get advance reservations for the tour! Go to flwright.org for tour availability. Without reservations we were still able to see the lobby which is wonderful. Information is posted in the lobby so you can get the history and the understanding of what FLW changed from the original lobby. Well worth the visit!
Written 25 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.
DutchNellieNel
Toronto, Canada4 contributions
Nov 2022
I got a private tour (by accident) through the Rookery by Jennifer from the FrankLloydWright Foundation and man, was I one lucky chic. Not only the dazzling beauty of this building is impressive; the story about the construction and its constructors/architects etc is just as impressive. Thanks so much to Jennifer; She made this tour an experience to never forget.
Written 5 December 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.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia19,438 contributions
Apr 2022
The Rookery building is considered to be the first skyscraper on which new materials and engineering were implemented, which pathed the way of building high rises we see today. Therefore, it was high on our list to visit.
However, our visit turned out to be a big disappointment. Pretty much, my impressions are the same as the fellow traveler below.
After an unwelcoming greeting of the front staff you're allowed to visit only the ground floor (the famous staircase cannot be seen from there). We tried to book a tour, but the office was closed with no info. There were other tourists as well, who left the bldg the same way we did - disappointed. It appeared to be a 5 min visit.
However, our visit turned out to be a big disappointment. Pretty much, my impressions are the same as the fellow traveler below.
After an unwelcoming greeting of the front staff you're allowed to visit only the ground floor (the famous staircase cannot be seen from there). We tried to book a tour, but the office was closed with no info. There were other tourists as well, who left the bldg the same way we did - disappointed. It appeared to be a 5 min visit.
Written 22 May 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.
Rolshchikov-Dmitry
Moscow, Russia515 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
This building is considered the oldest standing high-rise in Chicago. Its lobby was redesigned by legendary Frank Lloyd Wright, and it’s magnificent. If you are in the area, find 5-10 minutes to take a look inside. I hope next time I’m in Chicago I’ll be able to attend a guided tour to learn and see more.
Written 5 January 2020
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.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,117 contributions
Jun 2022
What do you get when you combine the two most famous architects in Chicago, Daniel Burnham and Frank Lloyd Wright? The Rookery, one of the most famous and ornate buildings in buildings in the center of Chicago, is the transition between traditional buildings and skyscrapers with load bearing walls and a steel skeleton. The building at the corner of LaSalle and Adams is literally the center of the Loop and the oldest high rise in Chicago. It is incredibly functional and beautiful both inside and out. What Burnham did to ornately show off the exterior, Wright did the same to the public portions of the interior which can be visited during working hours. The importance of this building to American architecture can not be overstated. This is why you must see it. It really is the base of every modern high rise in every American city. Yet it is not just it function and design, it is also one of the most ornate and beautiful edifices in Chicago. For all those reason you need to make every effort to see it.
Written 24 July 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.
Eric T
Detroit, MI116 contributions
Jul 2022
For photographers and lovers of architecture, this is a tour for you. I reccomend taking the tour of the building so you can get a upclose and personal experience of the buildings design. Its only open during M-F so arrainge for a tour to get to the upper levels.
Written 5 August 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.
Se puede entrar libremente o se debe comprar ticket? De ser así cuanto se paga por niño y cuanto por adulto? Se puede visitar sin unirse a un grupo de tour?
Written 18 January 2020
Do you need to join a tour or can visit the building by yourself? Can you visit only The Light Court or any other areas of the building?
Written 5 April 2019
You can enter the lobby yourself, but I don’t think you can go upstairs, which you definitely need to see. The tour is only $10, and it’s well worth it to get all the history.
Written 6 April 2019
Nicole84025
Farmington, Utah
Is it possible to get to the top of the spiral staircase to take pictures looking down?
Written 1 March 2018
My answer is pretty much the same. It's probably a question of getting lucky with the security people.
Written 1 March 2018
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