Baha’i House of Worship

I have visited this temple a few times. I’m amazed by the architecture and gardens. It was built in 1953 and I don’t know much about the religion. The staff is friendly and the welcome center is always super clean.
There is parking next to the welcome center. There is literature that explain the religion and architecture of the temple.

Absolutely stunning place to visit. Just off of a winding /​scenic Sheridan road, it’s easily accessible all year round.
The only Bahai in North America, and considering it’s so close to Chicago, it’s one of those places to check out, not only for its architecture, but for its non-​threatening environment. You won’t feel judged if you go there, by people. Also it’s a serene place for quiet reflection, on the grounds in the garden or in the building itself which is always open. Typically this place is very very quiet and respectful. Other houses of worship (i.e. I’m talking about other faiths, and not necessarily of a physical house) are loud and can be somewhat pretentious/​obnoxious and hypocritical.

I can’t add much to all the numerous reviews already on here, but visiting here is definitely worth doing at least once if you haven’t done so. It’s a little better to visit in the summer when the visitor center (downstairs) is open a little later and the outdoor garden surrounding the temple is in full bloom, but I do know the visitor center has reduced hours of operation even in the winter. Combine that with also visiting nearby Gillson Park across the North Shore Channel and Sheridan Rd, and you can make a nice several hours of fun outta heading up here. Hint: go slightly before Memorial Day or after Labor Day if you combine going here with Gillson, so that you can walk anywhere on the beach (part of Gillson is a paid beach during that Memorial Day-​Labor Day summer season), plus that it’s warm enough to bring a picnic. Be advised that their policy technically doesn’t allow photos inside the temple (outside pics are not prohibited though, of the exterior), so be very careful and discrete if you sneak a picture or a few inside. Another person trying to take a pic I saw on a recent visit was yelled at by one of the staffers (prob would’ve been caught if I wasn’t so fast in putting my camera away, after seeing that), and I felt bad for that guy. Plus gave him some friendly advice, that he’d like Moody Temple near LaSalle/​North, and that noone at that church gave me problems about me snapping a few inside pics of the sanctuary.
Anyway, parking is both on Linden, and there’s a small lot just to the west of the temple as well. If you hit Gillson Park first before coming here, parking is free (even for non-​Wilmette residents, since I believe you have to have a permit to park within that park) on Michigan Ave, the street immediately to the west of Gillson. And if you don’t drive, you can get here via going on the Purple Line ‘L all the way to Linden (final and northmost stop), then it’s a very short walk east. Gillson Park is just across the Sheridan Rd. bridge over the North Shore Channel, then you cross to go into the park. Watch for drivers on Sheridan when you cross the street (or use one of the marked crosswalks, since by law drivers have to slow down or stop if someone is in one of those crosswalks), since it’s a 4 lane road.

Stunning piece of architecture, looks like very unique not only for being the only one in the US but also for its grandeur, sense of peace, harmony and the illusion that all faiths can live in community (that is another story, but what a nice message). I heard this is an awesome place to visit when is super sunny, but under the first snow storm in Chicago this year, that was a pleasant surprise for me. My boyfriend took me there as for him this is a many-​times visited place and loves it and wanted to show me. He played in the piano that you can find in the auditorium, and no one complained (well, he plays very well after all:) and I wandered around admiring the dome with the classic Persian style modernized with that technique of beautified concrete. Do not forget to read the story on how the building was erected and you will be even more amazed when you sit in one of those rose-​wood colored chairs and admire the ceiling and the power of faith. Fantastic temple to visit, whether you are religious or not.

Have lived in the area and have never been (shame on me!)
Can’t add too much else to the rave reviews, but let’s just say, all the raves are earned and deserved. GREAT place to visit if you are in Illinois!
My only gripe —and not related to the place— was a woman talking LOUDLY on her phone while I was in the garden trying to find my Zen. She was loud enough to be disruptive so I got up and walked away. Fortunatley for me, there are so many places, both outside and indoors, to be able to relax and de-​stress that I had no problem finding a quieter, more peaceful spot.

Cant get more beautiful than this.
I recommend anyone religious or not to come by and appreciate the beauty of the architecture, the peacefulness of the surroundings, the opportunity to cleanse your body and mind.
I went with a group of people one of whom has limited mobility and they could not have been any nicer in accommodating us and showing us the way to the elevators.
My little ones enjoyed playing by the gardens and I could honestly stay there all day and just release any worries and stress residing in me. The temple overlooks the lake so its breathtaking views anywhere you turn to.
This was a beautiful experience and feel fortunate that we have the only one of the seven Baha’i temples in such close proximity.

what a unique, beautiful building.
it is worth to come see it and have a relaxing time there.
the structure is gorgeous, the gardens are well kept, and they even have a museum/​history building nearby.

Free admission
What a beutiful place for pray, meditation
Reflections, walk around enjoy the mother nature

This place has such a calming influence, that I would love to be here on every evening. Just walk in the beautifully manicured gardens, sit on the grass, watch the thousand butterflies, meditate, if you will inside the temple… it’s so peaceful all around.
The temple itself is so pretty to look at, both in the day and in the night.
You don’t have to be religious to come here. Just pay a visit and you’ll know!

How can you not love a gorgeous day, walking among beautiful flowers, water fountains, and most of all, this temple!
My husband and I, and our 2 year old, rode our bikes here for the first time and I must say, what a retreat! Everyone is super nice that you encounter, everything is beautiful. It really is almost too hard to take in.
The welcome center is great, too. Bathrooms, water, more information with a downstairs where you can watch a 10 minute video. All for free! Can’t be beat.
We did ride our bikes this time. If we go again with family we will drive. There is free parking. Definitely a must see if you are in the area!

So amazingly breathtaking.
I’m not religious at all, but you can’t deny how powerful and amazing this place is. It’s the perfect place to meditate or just to sit quietly inside or on the lawn outside and observe the beauty. The intricacies of some of the architecture are astonishing. And religious or not, you can’t deny that some of the principles articulated in Bahai’i beliefs are commendable — «unity of religion,» or the idea that people should not be divided by the manifestation of God they choose to believe in, and «unity of humanity,» emphasizing the importance of looking past our differences and recognizing that the unification of humanity is the paramount issue in the religious and political conditions of the present world.
Plus, if you come around sunset, you can get some astonishing photographs with the skyline in the background.
A magical and serene place overall.

Literally, how can anyone NOT like the Baha’i temple?
My friend took me here while I was staying in Evanston, at that time I was learning about the Baha’i religion through a think tank. I wanted to gain a better understanding of the Baha’i culture and faith as a part of my research for policy writing.
This place is literally a cultural, spiritual and eye opening experience all at once.
Perfectly manicured lawn, very friendly people here. The top of the dome is the place of worship, the center of the ceiling writes «God» in arabic.
The bottom you can walk around and learn about the faith, it’s literally a museum inside of a temple. Very welcoming, not pushy and very clean, spacious and well maintained. The fountain adds the extra bits of serenity. A must go to place to check out.

I love driving up Sheridan road to Wilmette and seeing this beautiful structure getting closer. I like to go here when I want a nice quiet place to think. The outside is a sight to behold, but the inside is also an amazing view to behold, especially when you are staring at the intricate designs on the ceiling.
We can count ourselves lucky that this picturesque temple was built here. It is truly a serene, and wonderful place to visit for whatever your reason you choose.

Seriously the most gorgeous place I’ve ever been. Just completely amazing.
There’s a beautiful haze that was coming off the lake when we went. Just gave it the feel that we were off in a far away country, much less in the United States.
This is the only Baha’i temple in the United States, so we definitely had to make the short trip out here during our Chicago trip. So my new favorite place I’ve ever been to in the US. So serene and beautiful, amazing architecture and grounds.
We made it for one of the quiet readings and the feeling provided more spiritual reflection than I’ve ever been able to access at any Protestant or Catholic services I’ve attended. Almost up there with the Mt. Sinai pilgrimage I did in Egypt.
On the bottom floor is a bookshop and a small museum about the history of the religion and the building of the temple. Very informative.
As anyone can see from the amount of raves, this is a must see!

Great escape for a little perspective change or meditation. No services are conducted here, there are occasional readings and choirs.
Visitor center below is excellent with bilingual brochures and a very interesting 10 minute video. I would allow at least 30 minutes in the center, and another 30 minutes to just sit in the Temple. We also enjoy the walk around the temple through their gardens.
Parking is not extensive, we found only street parking the last time we stopped, so you might avoid the usual Sunday drive visit. I believe there WAS a parking garage but it was closed for some construction.
This is one of only seven Bahai temples in the world, and the history of the Bahai congregation in Chicago and their desire to build, complete and resurface this temple is interesting and took a century. The outside surface is a blend of concrete and crushed quartz.
Gorgeous. I have to ding it a star until they get their parking situation fixed.

place is beautiful! both inside and outside. there is a visitors center that is pretty neat. Ask one of the workers to show you a short presentation about the temple. parking is convenient and their is a free beach close by.
Everything is free. If you have visitors from out of state, bring them here! they’ll love it I promise you.

Absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been meaning to visit Baha’i for the past four years of my NU career, and finally managed to stop by a couple days before leaving Evanston for good. I definitely recommend visiting the welcome center (check their hours!) because it gives you a really good introduction/​background information about the temple and the history behind it. I also highly recommend sitting in on the 20 minute film — I usually avoid these but it gave a great, brief history without being dry.
The temple itself is absolutely gorgeous and the interior is breathtaking. I also know a lot of people who run up here for exercise, and I think being able to see the temple at the end of your run will definitely be a worthwhile reward.

Breathtaking.
We came here on our weekend trip to the Chicago area before heading home. We came up on a Sunday Morning, and unfortunately were on a tight schedule so we didn’t have time to go inside and look at everything, which was sad. But we will definitely be coming back again.
As for the outside and the gardens, we came in early March, and it was still quite cold. The gardens were not in bloom but they were still absolutely beautiful. As was the outside of the building. The carvings on the dome were exquisite, ornate and beautiful. The architecture of this building is fantastic.
There was not a lot of parking, as there was construction going on when we got there. However, we parked on the street a little ways up and had no issues. It was easy, and even if it hadn’t been, it would have been completely worth it.
Pictures don’t do it justice. Its easily accessible by CTA if you need to take transit. It is also open to the public. If you are in the area, you must stop by and see it. It is truly magnificent.

What do I say about the Baha’i… eh. Just come see this place. You will not regret it, even if it’s just for novelty’s sake, and for being able to visit one of 7/​technically8/​maybe9soon of these in the world. But it really is gorgeous.
Come in the afternoon, take some nice pictures during the day/​sunset. Go inside and sit and feel extremely peaceful for a while. Go read about the history of the place downstairs — I never like doing this, but this was pretty interesting. When it’s darker out, drive/​walk by on Sheridan Road. Whether you approach it from the north or sorth, there’s a part of the road that curves, and suddenly the temple is within view. It looks like a majestic illuminated dome. Probably my favorite way of seeing it.
DO IT!

Have you seen the sky today? Talk about blue!
Okay, I stole that line from a friend who constantly quotes ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’, but it totally fits in this situation.
The Baha’i House of Worship is one of those places that takes an unusually sunny and unseasonably warm day and turns it into what could possibly be the very best day of your whole entire adult life.
If I had to sum up the Baha’i in one word it’d be ‘Whoa’. I’ve lived in the suburbs my entire life and never knew this place existed. It’s strange because as a kid to about driving age, my Dad would take the whole family out every weekend on a far, off the beaten path excursion– usually to somewhere strange and new that he’d heard about through rumors and hear-​say (I’m partially assuming since we didn’t have internet back then… and I don’t mean that the internet didn’t exist, I just mean that we as a household didn’t have it yet) and this is exactly the kind of thing we’d drive a million bajillion miles to see/​experience. But then again, my Dad has quite the aversion to churches and all things holy so maybe that was part of it.
This past Saturday it was 81 degrees with no humidity and sunny in Chicagoland and a friend mentioned that since we were in the area doing the Botanic Gardens and he’d always wanted to see this monument, that we should add it to our itinerary. Normally I wouldn’t be up for spending a sunny weekend day (or any day for that matter) in church, but sun-​rays put the spirit of adventure in my heels and I went all in.
Turns out, this place was officially named one of the 7 Wonders of Illinois and is the only Baha’i temple in US and one of only 8 in the entire world. The architecture is stunning and just being near gives you a sense of enlightenment.
Even with being 55 miles from my home, I know this is a respite I will frequent.
Post Script — Review #900, B*tches!
Post Post Script — Happy ½ Birthday, Bill Murray!