Five special spots of note at Driehaus Museum
September 19, 2012 6:14PM
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Updated: October 22, 2012 6:04AM
Look closely, now. Here are five special spots at the Driehaus Musuem — hidden in plain sight.
1) The original servants’ quarters are on the second floor behind a door (a staff member can show you where). They now serve as the museum staff offices, but visitors are welcome to take a look around. Lise Dube-Scherr, museum director, said the staff received so many questions about servants’ lives that they offered “Help Wanted: The Summer Servants’ Tour.” The tour, which ended Sept. 14, completely sold out.
2) The pedestal for the “Cupid and Psyche” statue in the art gallery was custom-made for the statue and its glorious surroundings. “It’s not just the object, it’s the placement of the object” that’s important, said Richard Driehaus, the museum’s namesake and founder.
3) The public restrooms are the original bathrooms used by Samuel M. Nickerson, updated with today’s plumbing. “We like to say they are the nicest bathrooms in Chicago,” said Dube-Scherr.
4) While museum visitors enter through the front door, visitors to the Nickerson mansion would have arrived through the porte-cochere into the reception room (look for the carved rams’ heads). The porte-cochere was torn down before Driehaus purchased the mansion.
5) Mrs. Nickerson’s east-facing second floor sitting room window was designed so the lady of the manor could enjoy what was then a view of Lake Michigan.
— Kara Spak
