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National Register of Historic Places

Washington Square

Also known as Bughouse Square; Park #1244

On the National Register since 199135 years
Listed 1991Chicago
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About

About Washington Square

Washington Square, at 901 N. Clark St., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1991. The Register lists it for its social history, at the local level. It was listed as part of Chicago Park District MPS. The listing covers 3 acres. Eight more Register listings are within a quarter mile.

PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 24 MB · National Archives↗
Visit

Make it a walk: 5 landmarks in about 10 minutes

901 N. Clark St., Chicago · about 0.3 miles on foot, as the crow flies

DirectionsWalk the tour in Google Maps
  1. 1Washington SquareStart here
  2. 2Washington Square Historic DistrictItalianate · next door
  3. 3Bush Temple of MusicBuilding · next door
  4. 4Maynard, Isaac N., RowhousesQueen Anne · 0.2 mi on
  5. 5Burlingham BuildingVictorian · Built 1883 · next door
Around it

22 more Register listings within half a mile

★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.

BWilliam Waller HouseItalianate0.1 miBVictor F. Lawson House YMCABuilding0.2 miBBuilding at 14-16 Pearson StreetQueen Anne · Built 18850.2 miBAmerica Fore BuildingBuilding0.2 miBHoly Name CathedralLate Victorian · Built 18740.3 miBHotel St. Benedict FlatsLate Victorian0.3 miBQuigley Preparatory SeminaryFrench Gothic Revival · Built 19170.3 miBFourth Presbyterian Church of ChicagoBuilding0.3 miBPalmolive BuildingArt Deco · Built 19290.3 miBDrake HotelItalian Renaissance · Built 19200.3 miBBryan Lathrop HouseGeorgian Revival0.3 miBMark Twain HotelBuilding0.3 miBOld Chicago Historical Society BuildingRichardsonian Romanesque · Built 18920.4 miBSamuel Nickerson HouseHigh Victorian · Built 18830.4 miDChicago Avenue Water Tower and Pumping StationCastellated Gothic0.4 miBMarshall HotelBuilt 19270.4 miBSwedish Club of ChicagoBuilding0.4 miBTree Studio Building and AnnexesQueen Anne0.5 mi
Show the other 4
BJ. P. Smith Shoe Company FactoryBuilding0.5 miBThe NeuvilleSecond Renaissance Revival0.5 miDNorth Wells Street Historic DistrictDistrict0.5 miDGold Coast Historic DistrictDistrict0.5 mi

Memories of Washington Square

The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.

Town Square →
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Questions about Washington Square

Is Washington Square on the National Register of Historic Places?

Yes. It was added on May 20, 1991 (Register number 91000566).

Is Washington Square a National Historic Landmark?

No. It is on the National Register; Illinois has 86 National Historic Landmarks. The nearest is James Charnley House, 0.6 miles away.

Can you visit Washington Square?

Yes: it is open to visitors. Check opening times before you go.

Where can I read the history of Washington Square?

In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 24 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.

Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 28891052. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.