Driehaus Museum acquires historic Murphy Auditorium
Driehaus Museum + Murphy Auditorium. Photo: Alex Brescanu.
CHICAGO, IL
.- The board of directors of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum today announced the acquisition of the adjacent John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium from the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
Located at 50 E. Erie Street, the six-story, 32,193-square-foot French Renaissance-style building was built between 1923 and 1926 by the American College of Surgeons, which occupied it until 1997. In 1987, it was extensively renovated to add more offices, and in 2006 ACS completed a three-year restoration and began renting the ornate, three-story auditorium for public and private events.
For the Driehaus Museum located in the adjoining Samuel M. Nickerson Mansion, originally built in 1883 and restored by Driehaus in 2003 the acquisition of the Murphy will make it possible for the Museum to expand its programmatic activities and capacity while carrying forward the tradition of creativity, innovation and education celebrated within these historic buildings since they were erected.