Ever wondered about the lives of women artists in early 20th-century Chicago? The Three Arts Club holds the key. Right here before you stands a building brimming with untold stories.
This magnificent structure is the Three Arts Club of Chicago. It wasn’t always a Restoration Hardware showroom. It served as a haven for women pursuing careers in music painting and drama. Founded in 1912 the club provided a safe and congenial home. It was modeled after the Three Arts Club in New York City. The original location was on North LaSalle Street. It housed sixteen women and had its own restaurant. But the club outgrew that space.
In 1914 Holabird & Roche designed a new building for the Three Arts Club. It opened in 1915 at 1300 North Dearborn Street. The three-story building had 92 rooms. Over 13000 women artists called this place home. Imagine the creative energy that filled these halls. The sounds of music the strokes of paintbrushes the rehearsals for plays. This wasn’t merely a residence. It was a vibrant community a crucible for artistic expression. A Chicago Landmark since June 10 1981 you can still see the plaque near the Dearborn Parkway entrance.
The Three Arts Club continuously provided residential space for women artists until 2004. That year the last resident moved out. The building was sold in 2007. The net proceeds funded a new non-profit 3Arts. This organization continues the legacy of supporting Chicago artists. Today’s 3Arts reflects the club’s original mission. It also connects equity and the arts.
So next time you step inside Restoration Hardware here in this building remember. You are walking in the footsteps of thousands of women who dared to dream and create. The Three Arts Club of Chicago their legacy lives on. Its history echoes in the very stones beneath your feet.