Recent Past Tours

Fisher Studios + Florsheim Mansion
Gold Coast Sites Tour

On the evening of Wednesday, August 21st we were glad to host our Gold Coast Sites tour of the art moderne-styled Frank Fisher Studio Apartments complex, including looks within two of the private residence studios; followed by a special access tour of the famous Florsheim Mansion; and a final stop at the Viceroy Chicago's mid-century lounges display in their lobby.

The tour will closely examine the works that came from one of the most important collaborative relationships that Edgar Miller cultivated in his lifetime, his friendship with Andrew Rebori. The Fisher Studio Apartments and Florsheim Mansion stand as truly unique and engaging architectural sights in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago.

Handmade Homes Exterior Design
Walking Tour

We put on our walking shoes and braved the heat! On Saturday, July 20th 2019 we went on a two-mile excursion to Chicago's near-north side neighborhoods, to visit Edgar Miller's renowned handmade homes. We visited near north districts that are home to not only Miller's work but also buildings directly inspired by the late, great Chicago architectural designer; and will get to explore the exterior of several Gold Coast, Old Town, and Lincoln Park buildings in detail.

The tour includes stops at the Newberry Library; Washington Square Park (formerly Bughouse Square and adjacent to The Dil Pickle Club, an often frequented Miller haunt); Fisher Studio Apartments; West Burton Place Historic District & Carl Street Studios; Old Town Triangle & Kogen-Miller Studios; Lincoln Park's Mid-North Strip & Walter Guest Apartments; finishing at Oz Park.

Northside Sites of Education + Worship Tour

Edgar Miller Legacy hosted a special tour on Wednesday, June 26th, 2019 of north side sites, home to some of Edgar Miller's most intricate commercial works. We visited some of Chicagoland's most prominent centers of learning and religious sites, including:

• Northwestern University's Technological Institute

• First Presbyterian Church of Evanston

• Loyola University's Madonna della Strada Chapel

• Emanuel Congregation Synagogue 

Each of these sites houses multiple examples of Miller's handcrafted art and design work, such as cast-stone bas reliefs, stained glass design, hand-carved woodwork, and tile mosaics. The sites of this north side tour are some of the most well-preserved public sites of Miller's art, as well as home to archived pieces rarely seen or accessed by the public. This tour will include bus transportation between stops, and guided talks on the art by members of the congregations at the various religious sites.

Carl Street Studios + West Burton Place
Historical DistrictTour

Saturday, June 22nd, 2019, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Thank you for joining us for a special opportunity to peak behind the walls of one of Edgar Miller's most stunning architectural creations, the Carl Street Studios on West Burton Place in Old Town, Chicago on Saturday, June 22nd. As the first "handmade homes" project that Miller undertook in the later 1920's, the Carl Street Studios has remained a steadfastly well-preserved site of some of the late artist's most stunning pieces of embedded art and design.

The Studios are home to some of the most colorful and experimental examples of Miller's mosaic, tile work, carving, and stained glass from his early professional career; as well as being a site that Miller returned to over the decades to refurbish and inspire other famous designers. Having designed much of the seventeen studios and handcrafted many of the astounding embedded design features, the Studios remain one of the most unique spaces in Chicago to explore.

- Near North Design Day -
Carl Street Studios & West Burton Place Historic District Tour

Saturday, November 10th, 2018
In partnership with the Terra Foundation for American Art, Edgar Miller Legacy is pleased to invite you to join us for our Near North Design Day tour of the Carl Street Studios and the West Burton Place Historic District.

Carl Street Studios is one of Chicago's most unique properties, sometimes known as Edgar Miller's "handmade homes." Originally a late 19th century mansion, by the 1920s the building had become run down. Young, entrepreneurial artists Sol Kogen and Edgar Miller, with collaborators such as Jesus Torrres, John W. Norton, and Margaret Oatway, transformed the building into an artistic live-work studio complex that remains inhabited to this day by art lovers, makers, and preservationists.

This tour offers a rare glimpse behind the gates of the mysterious compound, and a chance to explore the details and beauty within. Additionally, the tour will explore the immediate neighborhood and the West Burton Place Historic District, also known as the "handmade street."

Edgar Miller Legacy encourages all attendees to explore other sites participating in Near North Design Day before and after this tour.

Edgar Miller Urban Design Tour

Saturday, October 6th, 2018 - 11:00-3:00 - Near Northside Chicago
Edgar Miller Legacy was pleased to host our first Edgar Miller Urban Design Tour. This guided bus tour took attendees to some of Miller's most prominent commercial and privately commissioned works in the city of Chicago, including private spaces rarely open to the public. Sites that the tour includes:

• King Arthur Court - Medinah Athletic Club - One of the Magnificent Mile's most spectacular hotel interiors, now known as the InterContinental Chicago Hotel, the King Arthur Court therein is a unique venue and home to some of Miller's most detailed stained glass windows.

• Trustees System Service Building - Now known as the Century Tower, a unique art deco architectural project that incorporates some of Miller's magnificent cut-lead designs in its entryway.

• Frank Fisher Studios - Designed in partnership with prominent Chicago architect Andrew Rebori in 1936, the landmark Frank Fisher Studios remains one of the city's most refreshingly designed private residences. This is a truly special opportunity to explore some of Miller's most beautiful architectural work.

• National Public Housing Museum - Not yet open to the general public, the NPHM has been a prominent leader in the preservation and restoration of Miller's larger public work. This tour will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the NPHM's efforts to restore Miller's large-scale limestone "Animal Court" sculptures designed for the Jane Addams Homes in 1938.

• West Burton Place Historic District - One of Chicago’s Old Town neighborhoods most celebrated gems, this area is home to Edgar Miller and Sol Kogen’s first artist communities and complexes of handmade homes, the Carl Street Studios. This landmarked block is home to some of the most unique pre-modern architectural design that still stand in the city.

Edgar Miller's Pabst Blue Ribbon Murals in Milwaukee

Sunday, August 19th, 2018 - 9:30-5:00: Pabst Murals and More! - Milwaukee, WI
This road trip toured Milwaukee to visit Pabst Mansion and the Best Place at the historic Pabst Brewery, which houses Miller's fantastic frescoes depicting the history of brewing and the story of Pabst Brewing Company. This tour included lunch at Jackson's Blue Ribbon Pub and a guided tour of Best Place by historian and chief steward Jim Haertel. And yes, beer was also included!  

Edgar Miller West Side Site Tour

Sunday, June 10th, 2018 - 9:30am - 4:30pm: Chicagoland Tour, Chicago, IL
This bus tour took us on a day-long excursion, stopping at sites around the greater Chicagoland area, including Miller’s incredible stained glasswork at the Oakridge Mausoleum in Hillside. Other stops included the First Congregational Church in Des Plaines, Northwestern University Technological Institute, and Emanuel Congregation Synagogue. This tour offered a rarely seen glimpse of Miller's extensive commissioned work.

View list of Current Tours hosted by Edgar Miller legacy here.