The Thomas Gale House is a historic house located on Chicago Avenue in Oak Park, Illinois. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1892 and is one of his earliest works. The house is a Queen Anne style structure with a high-pitched roof, octagonal dormers, and a bay window. It is made of wooden clapboard with horizontal bands of windows. The interior of the house is spacious and well-lit, with large windows and high ceilings. The house has a number of original features, including oak woodwork, custom windows, and a fireplace in the living room.
Bootleg Houses
The house was built for Thomas Gale, a real estate developer and businessman. Wright designed the house while he was still working for the architectural firm of Adler & Sullivan. Wright was not allowed to take outside commissions while he was working for Adler & Sullivan, so he designed the house in secret. It is one of the few houses that Wright designed while he was still working for Adler & Sullivan and is known as one of his “Bootleg Houses”. The Thomas Gale House is a significant part of the history of Oak Park and is a popular tourist destination and is often featured on the annual Wright Plus Housewalk.
Wright also designed a summer cottage for Laura & Thomas Gale in Whitehall, Michigan in 1897.
Location
The Thomas Gale House is located at 1027 Chicago Avenue, in Oak Park, Illinois. The house is within walking distance of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio.
Visiting the Thomas Gale House
The house is privately owned and not available for tours.
For a more immersive experience of Oak Park, consider the Inside and Out Tour. This option combines a guided tour of Wright’s Home and Studio with a self-guided audio walking tour of the surrounding Historic District. You can explore the exteriors of other Wright-designed homes (like the Thomas Gale House) in the neighborhood at your own pace.
Wright Plus
The Wright Plus Housewalk is an annual event (usually in May) that offers a unique opportunity to explore the architectural treasures of Oak Park, Illinois. This celebrated event features guided tours of private homes and public buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries. The Thomas Gale House has been featured on the Housewalk in recent years.
Nearby Lodging
- Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop - Theatre District (8 miles from Oak Park)
- Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center (7.6 miles from Oak Park)
- Harvey House Bed & Breakfast (Oak Park)
- Kimpton Gray Hotel Chicago (7.9 miles from Oak Park)
- Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago (8.4 miles from Oak Park)
