Last year’s inaugural Chicago Modernism Weekend sold out so fast it left the whole North Shore wanting more. This year, Atomic Ranch and the Chicago Modernist Collective are returning with an expanded three-day celebration of the extraordinary mid century architecture hiding in plain sight across Chicagoland.
It’s back — and bigger than ever.
From the iconic steel-and-glass towers of Mies van der Rohe on Lake Shore Drive to rarely-seen private residences by local legends Edward Dart, Don Erikson, and Don Tosi, this is a weekend unlike anything else in the city — intimate, expert-led, and absolutely unforgettable.
Tickets go fast. Grab yours before they’re gone.
Chicago, IL
Limited Tickets available
There is no more fitting way to open a weekend of modernism than here.
The 900-910 Lake Shore Drive Apartment towers are Mies van der Rohe’s residential masterpiece — steel and glass reaching skyward on the edge of Lake Michigan, redefining what it meant to live beautifully in the modern age. Regularly cited among the most important residential buildings of the 20th century, these towers are as thrilling today as they were when they first transformed the Chicago skyline.
On Friday evening, you’ll go inside.
Tour a selection of private, never before seen units, each a study in the power of restraint, proportion, and light. Then gather for an expert panel discussion led by Atomic Ranch editor Jickie Torres, joined by specialists from the Farnsworth House, the Chicago Architecture Center, and the building’s own community — a conversation about Mies’s vision, his Chicago legacy, and what makes these towers endure.
Lincolnwood · Glenview · Highland Park
Saturday takes you into the neighborhoods — five stunning private midcentury homes across Chicago’s north side, each preserved, loved, and opened especially for you.
With the help of expert docents, you’ll trace the work of architects who shaped the region’s residential landscape, hearing the stories of the homes, the families who chose them, and the dedicated owners keeping them alive. Whether you’re a seasoned architecture enthusiast or discovering midcentury design for the first time, the Saturday tour is the heart of the weekend.
Winnetka
End Saturday the way it deserves to be ended.
Join us for an intimate evening cocktail party set inside a stunning newly renovated home by Don Erikson — one of Chicago’s most celebrated and underappreciated midcentury designers. Your hosts for the evening are the Atomic Ranch and Chicago Modernist Collective teams, along with the home’s talented designer Jennie Bishop, who oversaw the meticulous renovation that brought this gem back to its full glory.
Mingle. Ask questions. See a great home up close, with the people who know it best. Vintage cocktail attire warmly welcomed.
This is a rare chance to experience one of architecture’s most celebrated works not as a tourist, but as a guest.
Sleepy Hollow · North Barrington
Sunday takes the weekend west, into two of the suburbs’ most architecturally rich communities. Three exceptional homes await — a quieter, more contemplative day that rewards those who make the drive.
Barrington Hills
Limited tickets available
Edward Dart is one of the great architects of Chicago. A student of Mies, a designer of extraordinary sensitivity, and a builder of homes that somehow manage to feel both monumental and deeply human — his work is the hidden treasure of the Chicago modernist canon.
On Sunday morning, before the general tour begins, VIP ticket holders receive exclusive access to two of his finest residential works: the Heinrich House and the Beard House via shuttle bus. Choose from 4 time slots. These Barrington Hills homes are not part of the general Sunday tour. They are not open to the public. This is a singular opportunity to stand inside Edward Dart’s vision with the space and time to truly take it in.
Why choose one day when you can have both? Bundle Saturday’s home tour through Lincolnwood, Glenview, and Highland Park with Sunday’s tour through Sleepy Hollow and Barrington — eight extraordinary midcentury homes, and save $20. Available for a limited time only.
$120 Regularly $140 when purchased separately
Includes: — Saturday General Admission (5 homes) — Sunday General Admission (3 homes)
This is the best way to experience the full scope of Chicago Modernism Weekend — from the iconic architects who shaped the North Shore to the hidden gems of the Northwest suburbs.
Early Bird pricing is available for a limited time only and won’t last. Lock in your weekend now.
Have questions? Email us at events@atomic-ranch.com.
Things to Know
Event Check-in Location Chicago, IL View Map.
In-Person event tickets are refundable on a case-by-case basis up to 72-hours before the event start time. Refunds are issued for the ticket value only and will be returned to your credit card.
This charge will appear as EG Media Investments LLC in your bank statements
Input your search keywords and press Enter.
