Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
4.5
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
About
Rockefeller Chapel is the spiritual and ceremonial center of the University of Chicago, and a major performing arts producer, offering music, theatre, and visual arts events to citywide audiences. A leading venue for the choral arts, it is a prized event location for major speakers and international artists. It is the home of two world class instruments, the carillon and organ. Resembling a medieval cathedral in appearance and size, it hosts festivals and ceremonies of many world religious traditions, as well as Sunday services where the soaring architecture is matched with the poetry and theatre of grand liturgy of diverse origins, and with the beautiful voices of its choristers.
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Neighborhood: Hyde Park
If you want to get a feel for quintessential South Side Chicago, you have to make a stop in Hyde Park, one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods. This historic area is home to two of the city’s most prominent cultural institutions, the Museum of Science and Industry and the University of Chicago. A stroll here will bring you past vintage and grand hotels converted into luxury apartment buildings; peaceful gardens, parks and green spaces; and ivy-adorned museums and other cultural institutions that speak to the city’s diversity and architectural beauty.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
123 reviews
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Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,266 contributions
Jun 2022
The University of Chicago was created and gifted by John D Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest people to ever live. For decades it has been a worldwide research leader in so many fields. As an economics major, so much of my studies in the 1980s were derived from Milton Friedman and the Economics School here.
Most people are totally unaware that the roots of the university are from the American Baptist Education Society as Rockefeller was a devoted Baptist. This Gothic Revival Church commands a prominent position on the SE corner of the campus. At 200 feet it is by covenant to be the tallest structure on campus. Additionally is a self supported structure with no steel, like the medieval cathedrals of Europe.
Unfortunately, we walked the campus before 10 so the Chapel was not opened. Still it was an impressive site on its exterior.
Most people are totally unaware that the roots of the university are from the American Baptist Education Society as Rockefeller was a devoted Baptist. This Gothic Revival Church commands a prominent position on the SE corner of the campus. At 200 feet it is by covenant to be the tallest structure on campus. Additionally is a self supported structure with no steel, like the medieval cathedrals of Europe.
Unfortunately, we walked the campus before 10 so the Chapel was not opened. Still it was an impressive site on its exterior.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon from Dallas
Dallas, TX1,652 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel is an important building in Hyde Park worthy of a visit. But this review is focused on the bell tower and carillon. Most visitors aren't aware that twice weekdays (Tuesday - Friday 11:30 am and 4:30 pm) during the academic year they are invited to climb the 271 steps inside the chapel's bell tower and experience the world's second largest (some say it's equal in size to the largest) carillon up close and personal. What an experience!
On a quiet Thursday in May, Carillonneurs Joey Brink, Shu Zhang and Addison Jeske climb with us up the spiral stone staircase inside the bell tower with stops to inspect the belfry with its 72 bells and the mechanical works built in 1932. We continued along narrow pathways and through tight quarters to arrive at the cabin, a small room housing the console. There, the three carillonneurs played a half-hour concert, during which we were invited to take photos and ask questions.
Then for an added bonus, we climbed further to the very top of the tower and stepped out onto the parapets for a 360-degree uninterrupted view of Hyde Park, the University of Chicago campus, Lake Michigan, South Chicago and the city skyline...Breathtaking!
Having been to the top of the Willis Tower, this was equally thrilling, but so much more interesting and exciting to have a personal musical experience hosted by such talented young people. When visiting Robie House, the Museum of Science and Industry or the Oriental Institute, this is by far the icing-on-the-cake for a day in Hyde Park.
On a quiet Thursday in May, Carillonneurs Joey Brink, Shu Zhang and Addison Jeske climb with us up the spiral stone staircase inside the bell tower with stops to inspect the belfry with its 72 bells and the mechanical works built in 1932. We continued along narrow pathways and through tight quarters to arrive at the cabin, a small room housing the console. There, the three carillonneurs played a half-hour concert, during which we were invited to take photos and ask questions.
Then for an added bonus, we climbed further to the very top of the tower and stepped out onto the parapets for a 360-degree uninterrupted view of Hyde Park, the University of Chicago campus, Lake Michigan, South Chicago and the city skyline...Breathtaking!
Having been to the top of the Willis Tower, this was equally thrilling, but so much more interesting and exciting to have a personal musical experience hosted by such talented young people. When visiting Robie House, the Museum of Science and Industry or the Oriental Institute, this is by far the icing-on-the-cake for a day in Hyde Park.
Written June 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,491 contributions
Nov 2018
Any time you visit Rockefeller Memorial Chapel on the campus of the University of Chicago, you are awed by its grandeur and size and architectural beauty. That's how I felt the last time I was there, for the memorial service of an old friend, Larry Hawkins, one of the nation's most outstanding high school basketball coaches, chairman of the university's student outreach program and a great humanitarian. It was a fitting place to recall Hawkins' many contributions to the city's black youth. Built between 1925 and 1928 and located on the Midway, Rockefeller Chapel is the most imposing Gothic Revival structure on the campus, meant by patron John D. Rockefeller to be the "central and dominant feature" of the campus. At 200.7 feet, it is the tallest building on campus. Designed by architect Bertram Goodhue, it was built without the use of structural steel. It contains about 70 integrated figural sculptures by sculptors Lee Lawrie and Ulric Ellerhusen and interior work by mosaicist Hildreth Meiere. The wood carvings that adorn the organ and South balcony were created y Alois Lang, a Master Woodcarver at the American Seating Company and one of the artists responsible for bringing the medieval art of ecclesiastical carving back to life. His pieces in Rockefeller Chapel are carved from White Appalachian Oak. In addition, the chapel contains the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon and tower, a 72-bell carillon and the second largest carillon in the world. Today, the chapel is used for ecumenical worship services, weddings, university convocations, guest speakers, musical programs and occasional film screenings--and Larry Hawkins' memorial service. It occupies nearly all of a block and can seat as many as 1,700 people.
Written November 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pitttrader1988
Las Vegas, NV52 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
By charter, Rockefeller Chapel is the tallest building on the entire U of C campus. It's very pretty on the inside. Graduates look forward to walking down the aisle and getting their diploma. One of the things I love about U of C is a faculty member gives the graduation address. No celebrities. No fancy people. Just a faculty member. U of C students come to learn and faculty members have to teach. It sums up the U of C experience perfectly
Written March 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vbelly01
Kent County, MI32 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
The architecture is so beautiful. I absolute love the inside and the peacefulness environment.Would go back time and time again!
Written December 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jose F
Phoenix, AZ698 contributions
Jul 2015
Beautiful Gothic Revival structure not the campus of the University of Chicago. The campus is like visiting a park and the is its crown jewel. We visited the chapel when we visited the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House that is also on the UC campus.
Written December 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah O
Scotland16 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
We stumbled onto the carillon tours here in July -- guides will take you up to the top of the chapel tower at 1130 and 430 every weekday and 1215 on Sundays (we were the only ones on a weekday tour). Two kind volunteers guided us up the stairs (my feet hurt the next day but it was worth it) and showed us the inside of the carillon. We even got to stand inside of a huge bell. Then after a climb through the inside of the tower (and over part of the roof!) we enjoyed magnificent views over UChicago and Hyde Park. The chapel asks for a $5 donation. The carillon player showed us how she played the bells and the kids got to hit a few notes. A great experience. UChicago is quite a ways south from downtown but if you are in the area for the Robie House, to tour the University, etc., this is a great thing to do!
Written July 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James C
Toronto, Canada3,367 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
This beautiful chapel (cathedral more like) is well worth a visit. The architecture is stunning and the history is interesting as well. Give yourself a bit of time to explore.
Written October 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
L H
Chicago, IL1,860 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Large beautiful, high-ceilinged chapel on the University of Chicago campus. Lots of history. Worth a walk-through.
Written June 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RyanLChicago
Chicago, IL457 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
The name "Chapel" is misleading. This is more like a small Gothic cathedral, built as the chapel space of the University of Chicago. Tragically, in my opinion, the University in an effort to be more open or more secular, stripped out everything that could be associated with Christianity and did damage to the original architecture and design. Try to go for a music event -- especially choral music -- the acoustics are wonderful.
Written September 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will there be an Organ Concert sept. 27,28 or 29th?
Written July 24, 2016
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