Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Unity Temple

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Photographed By Sean Flynn, July 10, 2023

1. Unity Temple Marker

Inscription.
Unity Temple, as part of the 20th-century architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, has been inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Inscription confirms that this property deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity because of its Outstanding Universal Value.

This property is one of eight that collectively demonstrate the qualities of what is known as "organic architecture" developed by Wright, which was a singular contribution to global architecture in spatial, formal, material and technological terms.

July 10, 2019

Erected 2019 by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites series list.

Location. 41° 53.315′ N, 87° 47.797′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. Marker is on Lake Street, 0.1 miles east of Kenilworth Avenue, on the right when traveling east. This marker is located on the left side of the walk way on the northeast corner of Unity Temple, across the street from the Oak Park Public Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 875 Lake Street, Oak Park IL 60301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Unity Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Kettlestrings (within shouting distance of this marker); Percy L. Julian (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph and Betty Kettlestrings (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); World War I Monument: Peace Triumphant (about 500 feet away); Peace Triumphant (about 500 feet away); Scoville Park is the Heart of Oak Park (about 500 feet away); Scoville Park's Designer: Jens Jensen (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

Regarding Unity Temple. This is one of eight properties designed by Frank Lloyd Wright collectively named UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2019. They are: Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois; Frederick C. Robie House, Chicago, Illinois; Taliesin, Spring Green, Wisconsin; Hollyhock House, Los Angeles, California; Fallingwater, Mill Run, Pennsylvania; the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House, Madison, Wisconsin; Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York.

Unity Temple is one of two UNESCO-recognized Wright sites in the Chicago area; the other is the Frederick C. Robie House in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.

Also see . . .

Photographed By Sean Flynn, July 10, 2023

2. Unity Temple Marker

The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (UNESCO World Heritage Convention). Information on UNESCO's designation of Unity Temple and seven other Frank Lloyd Wright buildings as World Heritage Sites

"The qualities of what is known as ‘Organic Architecture’ developed by Wright, including the open plan, the blurring between exterior and interior, the new uses of materials and technologies and the explicit responses to the suburban and natural settings of the various buildings, have been acknowledged as pivotal in the development of modern architectural design in the 20th century."

(Submitted on July 10, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Unity Temple image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, July 5, 2023

3. Unity Temple

Unity Temple at night image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, April 1, 2024

4. Unity Temple at night

Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 10, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on April 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.