Near South Side in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Henry B. Clarke House
1836
October 19, 2013
1. Henry B. Clarke House Marker
Inscription.
Henry B. Clarke House. Known as the widow Clarke's house, this is Chicago's oldest building and its only surviving example of the Greek Revival style fashionable in the early 1800s.
Known as the widow Clarke's house, this is Chicago's oldest building and its only surviving example of the Greek Revival style fashionable in the early 1800s.
Erected by Commission on Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks.
Location. 41° 51.43′ N, 87° 37.321′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in the Near South Side. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Marker is located in the lower right of this photo.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 5, 2012
3. Henry B. Clarke House
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 5, 2012
4. Play House
Miniature Clarke House
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 5, 2012
5. Clarke House
“The Henry B. Clarke family built their house in the Greek Revival style in 1836 near what is now 1625 S. Michigan Avenue. In 1872 the house was sold and moved to 4526 S.Wabash.lt was relocated to its present site In 1977 and restored by the city of Chicago. Today it is known as the oldest house in Chicago.
The Clarkes purchased 20 acres of land on the shore of Lake Michigan in June 1835. Mr. Clarke was a part owner in the hardware firm of Jones, King and Company served as a director of the Illinois State Bank, and augmented his income by hunting and selling game.
Henry Clarke died in the cholera epidemic of 1849. His widow, Caroline Palmer, subdivided the property in the early I 850s, and made substantial improvements to the house. It was sold to John Chrimes in 1872, and to the St. Paul Church of God in Christ in 1941. In 1977, it was acquired by the city of Chicago.
The Clarke House was restored and opened to the public In 1982, and is furnished In the period of 1836-1860 by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Illinois. It is designated a Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” -- sign at Prairie Avenue Museums.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 5, 2012
6. The Cupola
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2013. This page has been viewed 754 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2013. 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 25, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6. submitted on December 4, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.