University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is one of the best universities in the world.  It was founded in 1890 thanks to a donation from oil magnate John D. Rockefeller.  The university and its reputation quickly grew.  By World War II it had become a premier research institution.  It was here that mankind’s first nuclear reaction took place thanks to Enrico Fermi.  Today the University of Chicago is known for its excellent academics.  The Common Core undergraduate curriculum attracts a unique brand of undergraduate.  Barack Obama taught at the Law School between 1992 and 2004.

The campus is beautiful, built over 211 acres in the South Side near Jackson Park.  It’s arranged in a series of quadrangles, designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb.  The older buildings are in the Gothic style, while the architectural style since the 1940s has been more eclectic.  The campus is bisected by the Midway Pleisance, which was the site of an amusement park during the Columbian Exposition and is currently used for recreation by students.

Highlights include the Robie House, a wonderful example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School.  If you want to visit, you’ll need to take a tour.  The Bond Chapel is a magnificent neo-Gothic building, featuring beautiful stained glass windows.  The Oriental Institute Museum has one of the world’s best collections of Near Eastern artifacts.  The Smart Museum of Art is cozy, but offers a rich survey of world art.

The campus is definitely worth a visit.  The atmosphere is peaceful compared to the rest of the city.  The architecture is beautiful, and there are a pair of great museums to enjoy.  You can spend an entire day exploring the campus.

Location: East 59th Street

Website: www.uchicago.edu

Train: 59th Street-University of Chicago (Metra)

Robie House

Address: 5757 South Woodlawn Avenue

Telephone: (773) 834 1837

Hours: Tours held throughout the week.