East Garfield Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Waller Apartments
Frank Lloyd Wright, architect; 1895
| — | Chicago Landmark | — |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 28, 2026
1. Waller Apartments Marker
Designated on March 2, 1994
Richard M. Daley, Mayor
Erected by Commission on Chicago Landmarks, City of Chicago.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is March 2, 1994.
Location. 41° 53.134′ N, 87° 41.893′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in East Garfield Park. It is on West Walnut
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lindemann & Hoverson Company Showroom and Warehouse Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Finley Peter Dunne (approx. 0.4 miles away); No. 42 Amvets Memorial Square (approx. 0.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 28, 2026
2. Waller Apartments
Regarding Waller Apartments. The Waller Apartments originally sat next to another Frank Lloyd Wright-designed low-income housing development, called Francisco Terrace. That building was demolished in 1974, but its decorative arch was salvaged and incorporated into a housing complex that opened in 1977 in Oak Park, about 5 miles west, the suburb where Wright's studio was located.
Also see . . .
1. Wallers, Burnham and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Excerpt from Classic Chicago magazine: “'The handsomest and most aristocratic individual I had ever seen,' was the way the young Frank Lloyd Wright described Edward C. Waller following their(Submitted on February 28, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)first meeting. Wright’s fine-looking, patrician Waller would soon become one of the great Prairie School architect’s 'earliest and most faithful clients.'”Courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-063775)3. Edward Carson Waller (left), with architect Daniel BurnhamWaller befriended Burnham, who would go on to be a famed architect and urban planner, while the two were prospecting for gold in Nevada in the 1860s. The two later collaborated in building the Rookery Building in 1889. In 1905, Waller commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to redesign the Rookery's lobby.
2. SUCCESS STORY: Waller Apartments in Chicago. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy shares the story of the Waller Apartments' recent acquisition, which led to its restoration.
Excerpt: "Listed for sale in early 2023, the unit at 2846 W. Walnut was sitting vacant and uninhabitable for two decades. The two-story townhouse was gutted to its studs, with structurally-compromised roof framing and a collapsed rear porch. Rehabilitation would require a steward who had experience with restoration in a complex urban context. The foundations of the east and west party walls were undermined by basement flooding and significant leaks compromised the structural integrity of the roof framing.... This building needed a new owner quickly to stabilize it and protect the entire complex from further threat."(Submitted on February 28, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 44 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 28, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
