Bahá'í House of Worship (Wilmette, Illinois)
Encyclopedia
The Bahá'í House of Worship (or Bahá'í Temple) in Wilmette, Illinois
, is the oldest surviving Baha'i House of Worship
in the world, and the only one in the United States.
first discussed the idea of a Bahá'í House of Worship in the Chicago area. At the time, the world's first House of Worship was being built in Ashgabat, in what is now Turkmenistan
. A Bahá'í from Chicago named Corrine True traveled to Palestine in 1907 to visit Abdu'l-Baha, the leader of the faith, and tell him of the growing interest in a local house of worship. Abdu'l-Baha gave his blessing to the project, but recommended that the structure be built away from the Chicago business district, in a more quiet area near Lake Michigan
. The Bahá'ís considered building the temple in Chicago's Jackson Park
or the suburb of Evanston
, but eventually settled on the Grosse Pointe area in Wilmette, Illinois, just north of Evanston. They began purchasing land for the temple in 1908.
Bahá'ís from around the world gradually raised funds to pay for the project. A Chicago resident named Nettie Tobin
, unable to contribute any money, famously donated a discarded piece of limestone from a construction site. This stone became the symbolic cornerstone of the building when Abdu'l-Baha arrived in Wilmette in 1912 for the ground-breaking ceremony. The actual construction of the building did not begin until the 1920s, after Bahá'ís agreed to use a design by Louis Bourgeois
. The design was seen as a mixture of many different architectural styles.
Construction resumed as contributions from Bahá'ís began to increase, and in 1930, the George A. Fuller Company was hired to complete the building's superstructure
. The superstructure was completed in 1931, and a year later, John Joseph Earley
was hired to begin work on the building's concrete cladding. A model of the temple was placed on display at Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition, and people began travelling to Wilmette to see the building taking shape. The exterior of the building was completed in January 1943.
Work remained to be done on the interior cladding of the structure, as well as the landscaping around the building. Louis Bourgeois' designs for the interior were incomplete. He had died in 1930, before he could finish his plans, so in 1947, Alfred Shaw was hired to work on the interior detailing of the building. A plan for the building's gardens was approved in 1951, based on a design by Hilbert E. Dahl.
, the wife of Bahá'í Guardian Shoghi Effendi
, read a prayer at the dedication. Several prominent figures, such as Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
and future justice Thurgood Marshall
, sent messages of praise to the Bahá'ís.
In 1978, the House of Worship was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. The building has become a popular destination for tourists, and the Illinois Office of Tourism has named it one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois".
The House of Worship is a domed structure surrounded by gardens and fountains on a 6.97 (2.82 ha) acre plot of land. The space between the floor of the auditorium and the ceiling of the dome measures 138 feet (42 m) high, and the interior of the dome is 72 feet (22 m) in diameter. The auditorium seats 1,191 people.
Since nine is the last number in the decimal
system, Bahá'ís believe it symbolizes perfection and completion. Thus, many elements of the building occur in groups of nine. For example, there are nine entrances to the auditorium, nine interior alcoves, nine dome sections, and nine fountains in the garden area.
The cladding
of the building is composed of a concrete
mixture of portland cement
and two types of quartz
. Many intricate details are carved into the concrete. Various writings of Baha'u'llah
, the founder of the faith, are inscribed above the building entrances and inside the interior alcoves. Symbols of many religions, such as the Christian cross
, the Star of David
, and the star and crescent
, can be found in each exterior pillar. The pillars are also decorated with swastika
s, which were used by Hindu
s, Buddhists, and others long before becoming appropriated by the Nazis. At the top of each pillar is a nine-pointed star, symbolizing the Bahá'í faith.
Inside the center of the dome ceiling, one can see an Arabic inscription. This is a Bahá'í symbol called the "Greatest Name"; the script translates as "O Thou Glory of Glories". Bahá'í Guardian Shogi Effendi explained, "By 'Greatest Name' is meant that Baha'u'allah has appeared in God's greatest name, in other words, that he is the supreme Manifestation of God."
Architect Louis Bourgeois
' former studio sits across the street from the House of Worship at 556 Sheridan Road
.
Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located north of Chicago's downtown district and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore district...
, is the oldest surviving Baha'i House of Worship
Bahá'í House of Worship
A Bahá'í House of Worship, sometimes referred to by its Arabic name of Mashriqu'l-Adhkár ,is the designation of a place of worship, or temple, of the Bahá'í Faith...
in the world, and the only one in the United States.
Early plans
In 1903, a small group of Bahá'ís in downtown ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
first discussed the idea of a Bahá'í House of Worship in the Chicago area. At the time, the world's first House of Worship was being built in Ashgabat, in what is now Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
. A Bahá'í from Chicago named Corrine True traveled to Palestine in 1907 to visit Abdu'l-Baha, the leader of the faith, and tell him of the growing interest in a local house of worship. Abdu'l-Baha gave his blessing to the project, but recommended that the structure be built away from the Chicago business district, in a more quiet area near Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. The Bahá'ís considered building the temple in Chicago's Jackson Park
Jackson Park (Chicago)
Jackson Park is a 500 acre park on Chicago's South Side, located at 6401 South Stony Island Avenue in the Woodlawn community area. It extends into the South Shore and Hyde Park community areas, bordering Lake Michigan and several South Side neighborhoods...
or the suburb of Evanston
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, but eventually settled on the Grosse Pointe area in Wilmette, Illinois, just north of Evanston. They began purchasing land for the temple in 1908.
Bahá'ís from around the world gradually raised funds to pay for the project. A Chicago resident named Nettie Tobin
Nettie Tobin
Esther Tobin, known as Nettie, was a widow and mother of two, who worked as a seamstress in Chicago around the turn of the 20th Century. Tobin, who wished to contribute to the construction of the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois was not able to contribute monetarily...
, unable to contribute any money, famously donated a discarded piece of limestone from a construction site. This stone became the symbolic cornerstone of the building when Abdu'l-Baha arrived in Wilmette in 1912 for the ground-breaking ceremony. The actual construction of the building did not begin until the 1920s, after Bahá'ís agreed to use a design by Louis Bourgeois
Louis Bourgeois (architect)
Jean-Baptiste Louis Bourgeois was a Canadian architect who is best known as the designer of the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, USA....
. The design was seen as a mixture of many different architectural styles.
Construction
By 1922, the first part of the building, the Foundation Hall, was mostly finished, and Bahá'ís began using it as a meeting place. Progress on construction soon stalled, however, as funds began to dwindle, and residents of Wilmette began expressing displeasure with the construction site. At this point, many strange rumors about the structure began to circulate. Some people believed that the building was used by the Bahá'ís to keep a live white whale. Others said that the building was a refueling station for captured German submarines that had been brought to the Great Lakes.Construction resumed as contributions from Bahá'ís began to increase, and in 1930, the George A. Fuller Company was hired to complete the building's superstructure
Superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships...
. The superstructure was completed in 1931, and a year later, John Joseph Earley
John Joseph Earley
John Joseph Earley was the son of James Earley, a fourth generation Irish stone carver and ecclesiastical artist...
was hired to begin work on the building's concrete cladding. A model of the temple was placed on display at Chicago's 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition, and people began travelling to Wilmette to see the building taking shape. The exterior of the building was completed in January 1943.
Work remained to be done on the interior cladding of the structure, as well as the landscaping around the building. Louis Bourgeois' designs for the interior were incomplete. He had died in 1930, before he could finish his plans, so in 1947, Alfred Shaw was hired to work on the interior detailing of the building. A plan for the building's gardens was approved in 1951, based on a design by Hilbert E. Dahl.
Dedication and legacy
The temple was finally dedicated on May 2, 1953. Over 3,500 people attended the services, including 91 year-old Corrine True. Ruhiyyih KanhumRúhíyyih Khanum
Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum , born Mary Sutherland Maxwell was the wife of Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921–1957. She was appointed by him as a Hand of the Cause, and served an important role in the transfer of authority from 1957–1963...
, the wife of Bahá'í Guardian Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
, read a prayer at the dedication. Several prominent figures, such as Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...
and future justice Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
, sent messages of praise to the Bahá'ís.
In 1978, the House of Worship was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The building has become a popular destination for tourists, and the Illinois Office of Tourism has named it one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois".
Features
Since nine is the last number in the decimal
Decimal
The decimal numeral system has ten as its base. It is the numerical base most widely used by modern civilizations....
system, Bahá'ís believe it symbolizes perfection and completion. Thus, many elements of the building occur in groups of nine. For example, there are nine entrances to the auditorium, nine interior alcoves, nine dome sections, and nine fountains in the garden area.
The cladding
Cladding (construction)
Cladding is the application of one material over another to provide a skin or layer intended to control the infiltration of weather elements, or for aesthetic purposes....
of the building is composed of a concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
mixture of portland cement
Portland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
and two types of quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
. Many intricate details are carved into the concrete. Various writings of Baha'u'llah
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, the founder of the faith, are inscribed above the building entrances and inside the interior alcoves. Symbols of many religions, such as the Christian cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
, the Star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
, and the star and crescent
Star and crescent
A star and crescent featuring in some combination form the basis of symbols widely found across the ancient world, with examples attested from the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Asia....
, can be found in each exterior pillar. The pillars are also decorated with swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
s, which were used by Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s, Buddhists, and others long before becoming appropriated by the Nazis. At the top of each pillar is a nine-pointed star, symbolizing the Bahá'í faith.
Inside the center of the dome ceiling, one can see an Arabic inscription. This is a Bahá'í symbol called the "Greatest Name"; the script translates as "O Thou Glory of Glories". Bahá'í Guardian Shogi Effendi explained, "By 'Greatest Name' is meant that Baha'u'allah has appeared in God's greatest name, in other words, that he is the supreme Manifestation of God."
Architect Louis Bourgeois
Louis Bourgeois (architect)
Jean-Baptiste Louis Bourgeois was a Canadian architect who is best known as the designer of the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, USA....
' former studio sits across the street from the House of Worship at 556 Sheridan Road
Sheridan Road
Sheridan Road is a major north-south thoroughfare that leads from Diversey Parkway in Chicago, Illinois, north to the Illinois-Wisconsin border and beyond to Racine. Throughout most of its run, it is the easternmost north-south through street, closest to Lake Michigan...
.