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Baháʼí House of Worship, Wilmette, IL

Photo: Wenbinbin2010, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingFreeHistory BuffLocal Gem

Baháʼí House of Worship

100 Linden Ave · Wilmette, IL

Why you should go…

This white domed temple in Wilmette is one of eight continental Baháʼí Houses of Worship and the oldest one still standing. Designed by Louis Bourgeois and dedicated in 1953, it sits on nearly seven acres of gardens with nine fountains. You can sit in the auditorium for a short daily devotional program, then visit the Welcome Center for exhibits on the temple's history, a short film and a bookshop.

  • #temple
  • #architecture
  • #gardens
  • #place of worship
  • #north shore

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Baháʼí House of Worship, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Nightlife
    Date Night

    Green Mill

    Under $25

    Catch live jazz in a 1930s Uptown lounge with a curved booth tied to Al Capone lore and a long-running Sunday poetry slam.

    7.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Nightlife

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Chicago Botanic Garden

    Under $25

    Stroll 385 acres of display gardens spread over nine islands, including a Japanese Garden.

    7.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Wrigley Field Tours

    $25–$50

    Go behind the ivy at the Cubs' 1914 ballpark, dugout, press box, bleachers, and a walk on the field itself.

    8.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Date Night

    360 CHICAGO Observation Deck

    $25–$50

    Lake-and-skyline views from 1,000 feet up, plus TILT, the glass ledge that leans you over Michigan Avenue.

    13 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Chicago

    Free

    Illinois' lakefront metropolis, home to world-class museums, architecture, and neighborhoods along Lake Michigan.

    13 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Chicago Water Tower

    Free

    See the castle-like limestone tower that survived the 1871 fire, now a small city art gallery.

    13 mi awayMore like this