Richard H. Driehaus Museum: What to Know Before You Visit

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum in Chicago occupies the historic Nickerson Mansion, a restored residence where late-19th- and early-20th-century art, architecture and design meet the building’s own history. Its collection and exhibitions are presented throughout the house, so the setting is part of the visit as well as a backdrop for what’s on view.

Banker Samuel Mayo Nickerson and his wife, Matilda, built the mansion. They had moved from Chatham, Massachusetts, to Chicago in 1858. Richard H. Driehaus acquired the building in 2003, and the museum opened to the public in June 2008 after five years of restoration.

The museum later expanded into Murphy Auditorium, which it acquired in 2022. The expanded campus officially opened on June 21, 2024, and includes both the Nickerson Mansion and Murphy Auditorium. The visitor entrance is up the grand stairs of the Murphy Memorial building.

If you’re building a wider day of sightseeing, the one-day Chicago itinerary offers another planning reference.

Start with the mansion’s Main Hall, nicknamed the “Marble Palace” for its extensive use of marble. The room makes the house’s scale and materials immediately apparent.

The Reception Room gallery offers a different kind of detail: a stained-glass dome and a monumental fireplace decorated with iridescent stained-glass tile. Both were added when the mansion’s second owners, the Fishers, commissioned a redesign.

As you move through the galleries, remember that the museum asks visitors not to touch the interiors or art on view. Ropes and signs indicate restricted areas, helping protect the historic rooms and their contents.

The museum combines its collection with exhibitions in the restored residence. General admission includes the exhibitions; you don’t need a separate ticket for them.

The museum welcomes walk-ins, and you can also book an advance ticket. Day-of admission is available only as a walk-in, not for online purchase. Allow about an hour for a visit or tour; guide-led tours run slightly longer than an hour. Leave extra time if you plan to explore the galleries independently or visit the museum store.

There are a few practical rules to keep in mind: backpacks and bags must be worn on the front or stored in the coat room. Electronic devices, food, tobacco and e-cigarettes, bicycles, scooters and strollers cannot be placed in the coat room. Tours with outside professional guides aren’t permitted inside.

General admission is $23 for adults, $18 for seniors and $13 for students with ID. Admission is free for children 12 and under, active military personnel with ID, museum members, NARM/ROAM/AAM members, and EBT (LINK)/WIC cardholders. The museum accepts credit-card payments only.

Wednesday admission from 4–7 p.m. is Pay What You Wish. Last entry is at 6 p.m. that day; on other open days, last entry is one hour before closing.

• Wednesday: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Thursday through Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Monday and Tuesday: closed.

Check the official site before you go for current admission and hours.

The museum is at 50 East Erie Street, two blocks west of Michigan Avenue, between Rush and Wabash. From FOUND Hotels Chicago Series by Marriott, it’s about a 9-minute walk.

The museum has an elevator and a wheelchair-accessible entrance at 50 East Erie Street, next door to the main entrance. Manually operated wheelchairs are available free of charge. Large-print labels are available on request, and the museum app includes audio-tour transcripts and copies of selected gallery interpretive panels. Service animals are welcome.

For an accessibility accommodation, contact Guest Services at (312) 482-8933 or info@driehausmuseum.org.

For another Chicago history-themed outing, use the Washington Square park guide to plan a separate stop. The museum visit itself can take about an hour, with extra time useful for independent gallery exploration and the museum store.