Clarke-Ford House

Clarke-Ford House Chicago's oldest house (1836), named after Henry B. Clarke & Bishop Louis Henry and Margaret Ford. Built in 1836 for Henry B.

Clarke, the Clarke House Museum is Chicago’s oldest house. The house shows what life was like for a family in Chicago during the city’s formative years before the Civil War. Its fascinating history began at a time when Chicago received its city charter and much of the area was still undeveloped prairie. Over the years, the house survived fires, belonged to a church, and was moved twice – during th

e second move, the house was stuck in the air for two weeks. The house is now located in the Chicago Women’s Park in the Prairie Avenue Historic District, and operated as a museum by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, furnished through the generosity of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Illinois. Learn more about this gracious Greek Revival style house and plan your visit today.

"But the story of how the late Bishop Louis Henry Ford, pastor of St. Paul Church of God in Christ, saved the 186-year-o...
11/28/2022
Chicago’s oldest house gets a new name and a renewed mission

"But the story of how the late Bishop Louis Henry Ford, pastor of St. Paul Church of God in Christ, saved the 186-year-old Henry B. Clarke House and helped facilitate its 1977 relocation to its current (and near-original) site at 1827 S. Indiana Ave., was too often relegated to the back seats of history whenever the noted home was discussed.
Until now, that is."

The new title, Clarke-Ford Home, corrects the record to show a Black religious leader’s critical involvement in saving and preserving the city’s oldest home.

Today, an ordinance was approved by City Council changing the name of Chicago's oldest house from the Henry B. Clarke Ho...
11/16/2022

Today, an ordinance was approved by City Council changing the name of Chicago's oldest house from the Henry B. Clarke House to the Henry B. and Caroline Clarke/Bishop Louis Henry and Margaret Ford House (to be more commonly referred to as the “Clarke-Ford House”). The dedication affirms the profound role of Bishop Louis Henry and Margaret Ford in preserving the house as a significant part of Chicago’s history and recognizes the contributions of Caroline Palmer Clarke.

“The renaming serves to tell a more complete history of Chicago’s oldest house that not only acknowledges its original owners, but also the significant contributions of
Bishop Louis Henry and Margaret Ford in preserving its legacy for future generations to cherish,” said Mayor Lightfoot.

“We are grateful to the many individuals — including the Ford family, neighborhood residents, dedicated volunteers — and community organizations who have cared for the Clarke House and advocated for its importance over so many years,” said
Alderman Dowell.

DCASE will hire a curator in the coming months to reimagine the house’s public programming, and the Department of Assets, Information, and Services (AIS) will be managing over $1 million in renovations to the building, including exterior repairs and painting and replacing HVAC hardware.

Although Clarke-Ford House tours are temporarily paused due to construction and a reimagining of its public programming; more information on how to enjoy and experience this great Chicago landmark will be made available in the coming months.
www.ClarkeFordHouse.org.

Photos of Bishop Ford and family provided by the Saint Paul Church of God in Christ's historical archives.

09/25/2022

Reminder: Effective September 1, 2022, Clarke House Museum tours have been temporarily paused due to construction and a reimagining of our public programming. Contact us at [email protected] with any questions.

Chicago’s Oldest House Set for an Unusual Renovation: It’s Getting a New Name
09/24/2022
Chicago’s Oldest House Set for an Unusual Renovation: It’s Getting a New Name

Chicago’s Oldest House Set for an Unusual Renovation: It’s Getting a New Name

A measure was introduced to City Council to rename the Henry B. Clarke House as the Henry B. and Caroline Clarke/Bishop Louis Henry and Margaret Ford House. The change will better reflect all of the home’s most influential owners, city officials said.

Effective September 1, 2022, Clarke House Museum tours are temporarily paused until further notice due to construction a...
08/30/2022

Effective September 1, 2022, Clarke House Museum tours are temporarily paused until further notice due to construction and a reimagining of our public programming. Contact us at [email protected] with any questions.

Shermann Dilla Thomas on Twitter
08/02/2022
Shermann Dilla Thomas on Twitter

Shermann Dilla Thomas on Twitter

“I love talking about the guy who saved Chicago’s oldest house, Bishop Louis Ford (yes that Bishop Ford 😉).”

Clarke House Museum tours return Wednesdays & Saturdays at 1pm starting October 20th. FREE Admission. Click below for mo...
10/17/2021
Clarke House Museum

Clarke House Museum tours return Wednesdays & Saturdays at 1pm starting October 20th.
FREE Admission. Click below for more information.
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/clarke_house_museum.html

Built in 1836 for Henry B. Clarke, the Clarke House Museum is Chicago’s oldest house. The house shows what life was like for a family in Chicago during the city’s formative years before the Civil War.

Join us Saturday, October 16: 12pm - 4pm and Sunday, October 17: 12pm - 4pmfor Open House Chicago, presented by the Chic...
10/11/2021
Clarke House Museum

Join us Saturday, October 16: 12pm - 4pm and Sunday, October 17: 12pm - 4pm
for Open House Chicago, presented by the Chicago Architecture Center.
Information below.
https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/clarke-house-museum/

Clarke House is the oldest surviving structure within Chicago's original 1837 boundaries. It has operated as a house museum for over 30 years. It interprets the early history of Chicago and the city's extraordinary growth in the years leading up to the Civil War. Built for Henry and Caroline Clarke....

05/24/2021
Top Floor

A unique opportunity about this video, edited by Free Spirit Media, is the rare chance to see from the top floor!

Click below to experience the FULL digital tour of Chicago's oldest house made possible by support from the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Illinois.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMu1xJF6VAQ&t=1122s

05/12/2021
Italianate

The moment when Mrs. Clarke was able to update the style to Italianate... 😊

Click below to experience the FULL digital tour of Chicago's oldest house made possible by support from the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Illinois.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMu1xJF6VAQ&t=1122s

04/13/2021
Furniture

Very often, furniture had multiple uses in the 1830's-50's...

Click below to experience the FULL digital tour of Chicago's oldest house made possible by support from the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Illinois.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMu1xJF6VAQ&t=1122s

04/03/2021
The Move

FYI The Clarke House is 𝐧𝐨𝐭 currently in the same location that it was originally built on.

Click below to experience the FULL digital tour of Chicago's oldest house made possible by support from the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Illinois.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMu1xJF6VAQ&t=1122s

03/24/2021
North End

DYK the north and south ends of the Clarke House weren't finished at the same time?

Click below to experience the FULL digital tour of Chicago's oldest house made possible by support from the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Illinois.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMu1xJF6VAQ&t=1122s

While we can't yet reopen the Clarke House Museum for tours – we're very pleased to bring Clarke House to YOU via a new ...
03/18/2021
Clark House Museum Digital Tour

While we can't yet reopen the Clarke House Museum for tours – we're very pleased to bring Clarke House to YOU via a new digital tour lead by Chicago Cultural Historian Tim Samuelson and made possible via support from The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Illinois.
The film, edited by Free Spirit Media, is a production of the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Enjoy!

Join Chicago's cultural historian Tim Samuelson on a virtual tour of Chicago's oldest house, the Clarke House Museum.Jump to a section: History 2:08Kitchen 9...

Tours at the Clarke House Museum have been cancelled until further notice. Please refer to the Chicago Department of Pub...
04/24/2020
Cultural Affairs and Special Events

Tours at the Clarke House Museum have been cancelled until further notice. Please refer to the Chicago Department of Public Health’s website chicago.gov/coronavirus, for the latest local updates on the response to COVID-19.

03/25/2020

DCASE understands the enormous economic impact the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak is having on our local arts community. The City of Chicago is aggressively exploring financial supports for this sector, and we will be in touch with those details very soon. In the meantime, please visit our Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) website for a new list of COVID-19 Arts Community Resources - a partial list of the many local and national efforts to support our artists and arts organizations.
👉https://bit.ly/3al1i1s

On behalf of Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and DCASE Commissioner Mark Kelly, thank you again for your steadfastness, professionalism and inventiveness during this challenging time. For more information on COVID-19, please visit the City's website at www.cityofchicago.org/coronavirus. This site is updated several times daily by the Department of Public Health, led by Commissioner Allison Arwady, and will continue to be enhanced as we learn more about this challenge.

The health and safety of our visitors, event attendees and staff members remain our highest priority. As such, the Chica...
03/19/2020
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The health and safety of our visitors, event attendees and staff members remain our highest priority. As such, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is closely monitoring developments around the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) and sharing safeguards and best practices as outlined by federal health authorities and state and local officials. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟓. We are taking additional precautions – including increasing cleaning, sanitation, supplying hand sanitizer stations and encouraging guests and staff members who are sick to stay home. Please refer to the Chicago Department of Public Heath’s website, chicago.gov/coronavirus, for the latest local updates on the response to COVID-19.

Chicago Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) information Updates

The health and safety of our visitors, event attendees and staff members remain our highest priority. As such, the Chica...
03/13/2020
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The health and safety of our visitors, event attendees and staff members remain our highest priority. As such, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is closely monitoring developments around the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) and sharing safeguards and best practices as outlined by federal health authorities and state and local officials. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟐. We are taking additional precautions – including increasing cleaning, sanitation, supplying hand sanitizer stations and encouraging guests and staff members who are sick to stay home. Please refer to the Chicago Department of Public Heath’s website, chicago.gov/coronavirus, for the latest local updates on the response to COVID-19.

Chicago Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) information Updates

Attention: Clarke House will be closed Wednesday, December 25 through Wednesday, January 1.We will open for tours beginn...
12/21/2019

Attention: Clarke House will be closed Wednesday, December 25 through Wednesday, January 1.
We will open for tours beginning on January 3, 2020.

Come one, come all via Open House Chicago 2019
10/05/2019
Open House Chicago — Clarke House Museum

Come one, come all via Open House Chicago 2019

Take a tour of Clarke House Museum—Chicago’s oldest house—as part of Open House Chicago, presented by the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Honored that Governor JB Pritzker held this wonderful occasion right at our front door!
08/01/2019

Honored that Governor JB Pritzker held this wonderful occasion right at our front door!

01/29/2019

Due to extreme temperatures, the Clarke House Museum will be closed tomorrow. Stay warm!

01/19/2019

A winter wonderland...Clarke House Museum inside Chicago Women’s Park & Gardens.

Oh wow. Get a look at this...
09/27/2018

Oh wow. Get a look at this...

PDNA Throwback Thursday - 1978
Henry B. Clarke House at Women's Park at 1827 S Indiana Avenue

A late 1978 shot of the Clarke House during restoration, after it was moved to its 3rd location at 1827 South Indiana Avenue in the dead of winter, from it's 2nd location near 44th & Wabash.

Originally built in 1836 near 17th and Michigan Avenue, and moved from there years later to it's 2nd home, it is considered the oldest in Chicago, is now known as the Clarke House Museum.

(William Brubaker Collection at University of Illinois at Chicago)

Photos from Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance's post
07/30/2018

Photos from Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance's post

Photos from Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance's post
07/23/2018

Photos from Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance's post

Why the Oldest Building in Chicago isn’t the Oldest
07/17/2018
Why the Oldest Building in Chicago isn’t the Oldest

Why the Oldest Building in Chicago isn’t the Oldest

Two homes in Chicago lay claim to the title of the oldest building in Chicago. But which one is it? To understand the problem, you have to look at the histor...

The Clarke House Museum will be closed this Wednesday in observance of the 4th of July holiday.
07/02/2018

The Clarke House Museum will be closed this Wednesday in observance of the 4th of July holiday.

The Free Days at Chicago Museums in June | UrbanMatter
06/06/2018
The Free Days at Chicago Museums in June | UrbanMatter

The Free Days at Chicago Museums in June | UrbanMatter

Museums can be fun and educational, but they usually come with a high entry fee. Check out the days this month you can visit these Chicago spots for free.

Maybe a couple snaps about the  ? The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has a NEW Snapchat account will ...
05/21/2018

Maybe a couple snaps about the ?
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has a NEW Snapchat account will real-time photos and videos on art and culture in our fair City. Hope to see you on there!

05/16/2018

FREE public tours of Clarke House Museum are offered on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Visit https://goo.gl/UZLoMA for more information.

04/18/2018

So excited that 2018 is the Year of Creative Youth! Post about young local artists you know and use the hashtag .

Address

1827 S Indiana Avenue
Chicago, IL
60606

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Interesting review of Clarke House Museum in Chicago Women’s Park

https://youtu.be/itlh_TH-GuY
Clarke House Museum Public Tours
Wednesdays & Saturdays at 1pm
FREE Admission. Limited to 8 people.
Click below for more info!
https://dcasevoluntours.org/page/CHMPublicTour
Despite weather, stair restoration for the Clarke House Museum inside Chicago Women’s Park & Gardens is underway.
Can you believe this house is 185 years old?

This is the Clarke House. Henry and Caroline Clarke began building it after moving to Chicago from upstate New York. They moved in 1836, although it wasn't quite done yet. It took longer to construct because Caroline didn't want that flimsy balloon-frame construction.

Caroline wanted timber. Caroline got timber.

It's a good thing, because that house ended up being moved twice.

The Clarke house survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 because Henry and Caroline decided to build way south of the young town. It's one of the few remaining pre-Chicago fire buildings downtown, and it's considered the oldest house in Chicago. (Sort of.)

The Clarke House Museum has been closed to the public, but they're reopening for tours October 20! You can see it even earlier during the Chicago Architecture Center's Open House Chicago. Can't make it? Well, you can read the story in Living Landmarks of Chicago. The Clarke House is the first of the fifty landmarks in the book.

I have a few copies, and it's also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, etc. https://tlt.rocks/lloc-fire

The late 1960's view from looking north at the current Chicago Women's Park Field House which was originally a Swiss Foods headquarters. This would show approxiatmely where the Clarke House Museum stands today.
(Richard Nickel photo)
Before it was Chicago Women's Park & Gardens

A little throwback from the late 1960's before many park concepts would be proposed over the course of the next 30 years. This would have been several years before the Clarke House Museum would find it's way back to the neighborhood and be placed on the site.

As detailed in Glessner House Museum's article, "famed architectural photographer Richard Nickel was instrumental in saving Glessner House in the 1960s. At that time, he also documented the neighborhood around the house, providing a rare glimpse of the future park site as it appeared at its low point – vacant lots or parking lots to accommodate the surrounding businesses...."

https://glessnerhouse.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-chicago-womens-park-and-gardens.html
Chicago Women’s Park & Garden History in Detail

During the pandemic, Glessner House Museum Director and historian Bill Tyre took time to pen a 3 part story on the history of what eventually would become Chicago Women’s Park & Gardens.

It’s a twisting and turning tale that highlights, in reality, almost a hundred years of activity for it to become the cultural park, international destination, and a community hub it is today. From changes in the neighborhood, to vacant lots, multiple attempt at plans, to land acquisition, to moving of the Clarke House Museum, then 33 years to build a park, and finally the community effort to save what would eventually become the Chicago Women’s Park Field House.

Without further ado, Parts I, II, and III:

The Chicago Women's Park and Gardens - Part I

https://www.glessnerhouse.org/story-of-a-house/2021/3/16/the-chicago-womens-park-and-gardens-part-i

The Chicago Women's Park and Gardens - Part II

https://www.glessnerhouse.org/story-of-a-house/tag/Chicago+Women%27s+Park+and+Gardens

The Chicago Women's Park and Gardens - Part III

https://www.glessnerhouse.org/story-of-a-house/2021/5/4/the-chicago-womens-park-and-gardens-part-iii
Have never had the chance to tour the Clarke House Museum inside Chicago Women's Park & Gardens?

Here is a wonderful and informative on-line tour made possible by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America...
This is such a wonderful addition to our Youtube channel!
Have you had the chance to visit Chicago's oldest house, the Clarke House Museum? While tours are closed for now, a beautifully insightful digital tour has just been released – made possible via support from The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Illinois, edited by Free Spirit Media and starring your favorite Chicago Cultural Historian, Mr. Tim Samuelson!
Click here for full tour 👉 https://bit.ly/2OEtiYA
Excellent snowy day reads on the history of the Clarke House Museum inside Chicago Women’s Park & Gardens. Spring is 31 days away!

• Clarke House History
http://wendycitychicago.com/wendycity-house-museums-the-story-of-chicagos-oldest-house/

• The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America Illinois - the team behind the research, preservation, and acquisition of the interior collection at Clarke House Museum for nearly 50 years

https://nscda-il.org/the-henry-b-clarke-house/the-henry-b-clarke-house-2/
Check out Chicago Women's Park and Gardens Advisory Council, Glessner House, Clarke House Museum and many other attractions and pick up some goods from our sister company The Spoke & Bird Bakehouse in .
Tomorrow's Architecture Crash Course, at 6pm on Thursday, 7/30, looks at the urban crisis that struck Chicago in the middle of the 20th century.

We'll delve into the myriad issues surrounding urban renewal and the rise of the historic preservation movement. https://www.chicagodetours.com/virtual-tours/
Preservation Chicago Landmarks Illinois University of Illinois at Chicago Glessner House Clarke House Museum Urban Remains
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