The Ultimate Guide To Baháí House of Worship
Bahá'í House of Worship, a monumental structure on Chicago's North Shore!
The Bahá’í House of Worship in Chicago, one of the only eleven Bahá’í temples ever built all over the globe, is an unfathomably beautiful dome structure with intricate designs, several gardens, fountains, and reflection pools!
The Bahá’í Religion preaches the unity of all religions and people of all races, and the same is evident in the structure of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Chicago, which has nine sides, nine gardens, and nine doors, representing and uniting nine different religions of the world. The nine-pointed star is the symbol of the Bahá’í Faith, and each corner of the star represents a religion, including Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, and Sikhism.
The Bahá’í religion, founded in the Middle East in the 1840s, was first introduced in the US in Chicago around 1893. It was then decided to build the Bahá’í temple in Chicago. The Temple’s Architect, Louis Bourgeois, describes the temple’s architecture in his words as a symbol of unity, merging all religions into one. Out of eleven Bahá’í Houses of Worship, only ten exists now and are located in (1) Wilmette, Illinois, US, (2) Kampala, Uganda, (3) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, (4) Hofheim-Langenhain, Germany, (5) Panama City, Panama, (6) Tiapapata, Samoa, (7) Delhi, India, (8) Santiago, Chile, (9) Battambang, Cambodia, and (10) Agua Azul, Colombia.
Illinois’s Bahá’í House of Worship offers an opportunity to learn about Bahá’í Religion and marvel at one of the most remarkable concrete structures in the US!
The imposing dome structure of Bahá’í House of Worship in Illinois is known for its exemplary craftsmanship and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The intricate designs on the exterior and the interior of the temple, the beautiful gardens, pools, and fountains, offers vistas that are hard to match! The Bahá’í temple features an Auditorium which is the main area for prayers and gatherings, a Welcome Center offering insights into the Bahá’í religion, and upper and lower balconies offering top-down views of the elegantly decorated Chapel.
Here is my ultimate guide to Baháí House of Worship, featuring essential trip-planning information, things to do, nearby attractions, and recommendations on hotels and restaurants near Baháí House of Worship!
Planning Your Trip To Bahá'í House of Worship
Bahá’í House of Worship is open year-round, but it’s better explored outside the winter months due to chilly winters and snowfall in Chicago’s North Shore.
Best Time To Visit Bahá’í House of Worship: While the chapel is open year-round, warm summer months are ideal for exploring the exterior and the several gardens of Bahá’í House of Worship. If you don’t mind slightly cooler weather, visiting in spring and fall is also a great option to beat the crowd in Chicago. Winter is harsh with regular snowfalls and is not the best time for outdoor activities.
Getting To Bahá’í House of Worship: The best and most comfortable way to get to Bahá’í House of Worship is by flying into Chicago O’Hare International Airport and then driving to the Bahá’í Temple. Alternatively, you could also take a train or a bus to Chicago.
- Flight: Chicago O’Hare International Airport is the closest airport to Bahá’í House of Worship and is serviced by several airlines. Located about 20 miles from Bahá’í Temple, O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois, is the best airport to get to Chicago.
- Train: Chicago Union Station, located in downtown Chicago, connects several cities and states to Chicago and is also a major hub for several train networks in the US.
- Bus: Greyhound offers bus services to Chicago, with the nearest Greyhound bus stop to Bahá’í Temple located in Cumberland Ave, Illinois.
Time Required At Bahá’í House of Worship: It shouldn’t take more than 2 – 3 hours to explore the chapel and the gardens at Bahá’í House of Worship. The Bahá’í Temple features an Auditorium and a Welcome Center and has on-site coordinators to help you navigate the temple.
Parking At Bahá’í House of Worship: There’s an on-site parking lot on the southwest section of the temple and ample street parking available at Bahá’í House of Worship.
Other Attractions Near Bahá’í House of Worship: There’re a few other attractions in Chicago’s North Shore that you could visit on your trip to Bahá’í Temple, including a few museums and parks.
- Block Museum of Art: Located about 2 miles from Bahá’í House of Worship, the Block Museum is an art museum featuring several paintings and photographs, primarily used as a learning resource for Northwestern University, is also open to the public.
- Chicago Botanic Garden: The Chicago Botanic Garden is a sprawling garden with waterfalls, lakes, and Bonsai Collection located along the Lake Michigan shoreline, about 9 miles from the Bahá’í Temple.
- Grosse Point Lighthouse: Located a mile south of Bahá’í House of Worship, Grosse Point Lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark and a museum.
- Halim Time & Glass Museum: Showcasing historical timepieces and stained glasses, the Halim Time & Glass Museum is located just 2 miles from Bahá’í House of Worship.
Hotels Near Bahá’í House of Worship: You don’t necessarily need to stay near Bahá’í House of Worship as it’s located just 16 miles from Downtown Chicago, where you will find some of the best hotels in Chicago. However, if you wish to stay close to Bahá’í House of Worship in Chicago’s North Shore, you may not find boutique hotels and resorts, but there are a few good hotels and bread and breakfasts close to Bahá’í Temple.
- Hyatt House Chicago Evanston
- Hilton Garden Inn Chicago North Shore
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago North Shore
Restaurants Near Bahá’í House of Worship: You will find several eateries and cafes in the town of Wilmette and Evanston located close to Bahá’í House of Worship. Here’re a few restaurants that I liked and recommend – Tomate Fresh Kitchen for Mexican food in Evanston, Torino Ramen serving Japanese fare in Wilmette, Walker Bros. Original Pancake House in Wilmette, and Ten Mile House serving American food in Evanston.
Other Illinois Attractions & Related Posts
I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Guide To Baháí House of Worship, and I expect this will help you plan your trip to Baháí House of Worship. You can find other Illinois attractions in my Illinois Travel Guide.
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