"Here, you can step back to a simpler time to explore the craftsmanship and unexpected brilliance of a Civil War era architectural masterpiece - the historic Dole Mansion. The Dole guarantees to stop you in your tracks with its intricate wood carvings, dazzling parquet floors and stunningly beautiful grand staircase.
Beneath the layers of paint, behind the years of wear and tear, you can still witness the unbridled imagination of a Chicago entrepreneur by the name of Charles Dole shining through. His was a time when Daniel Burnham was shaping Chicago's rebirth after the Great Chicago Fire, for the Colombian Exposition.
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Original barn to house Charles Dole's elite European
race horses, and later on, prized cattle.
A New Purpose For An Old Friend
Today, the Arts Park is in its infancy. Officially opened on July 4, 2005, it is owned and operated by a the non-profit Lakeside Legacy Foundation, formed for the purpose of preservation, protection, and enhancement of the property. The vision: become a world-class arts education center.
Today, there are several arts educators on campus, offering everything from painting to music to foreign language classes. The public is welcome to come take classes in any one of the many disciplines being offered today. Click for more
Studio Artists
Also, you'll find several resident artists in the Creative Arts Center's upper floors. Go explore the arts center and you'll find musicians, painters, fashion and 3-D artists. Click for more
Events
There are events going on regularly in the Creative Arts Center, so check the calendar often. The first Friday of every month is our official "First Friday" event, plus, there's the ever-popular major seasonal fundraising events, we call Legacy Events: Lakeside Festival, OktoberFest, and Christmas at the Dole. You can even book the property for your own event on campus, so give our event planner a call to get you started! Click for more
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