Smith Museum of Stained Glass

Before they get served with a sprig of dill and a dollop of tartar sauce, salmon swim upstream to spawn and die. Similarly, brave tourists struggle against the currents of the hoarding masses of family units at Navy Pier to find themselves in a darkened passage far on the edge of the elongated building. No, these tourists do not perish from the pressure of marauding kids out to find the next sugar rush in their goal of torturing their parents.

These art-seeking connoisseurs actually regal in the variety of stained glass windows on display in this section of Navy Pier. There are 150 of them in a space about 800 feet long. Since they don't charge an admission, the museum doesn't have a separate entrance. Rather, the visual delights simply begin as one can see windows more traditionally religious in design alternate with ones that are more modern and even challenging. Look in particular for the Martin Luther King portrait made of seemingly random glass shards (see photo).

There is an organizational structure to the windows as the museum is subdivided into Victorian, Prairie, and Modern/Contemporary styles. The thirteen windows that come from Tiffany's studio in New York City represent a special highlight, especially for anyone enthralled by the renowned Oyster Bay windows on permanent display at the Metropolitan Museum. At one time or another, all the windows here were installed somewhere in the Chicago area, whether in a church, a mansion or even an office building.

It's a blessed relief to chill here after dealing with the throngs of hyperactive children in Navy Pier's more commercial area. The downside is that you have to go back and face the masses on the way out.

I like many, many other guests at Navy Pier, I had stumbled upon this gem by accident.

The "walk-thru" museum has various rooms to view. There are works from Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright. There are various pieces that you make you go in "ah" mode.

For any stain glass enthuses, you will enjoy this museum.

Interestingly enough, you wouldn't even know you were walking into a museum if you saw where it was located.

This museum is located on Navy Pier. Don't let the word "museum" fool you. Even though it is an exhibition of stained glass, the building does not look like your typical museum.

First off, it's pretty small. You don't really need a lot of space for stained glass windows. Second, when you are walking down Navy Pier through the inside way, you could basically pass through the museum without even knowing it. Many people discover this place by accident. I didn't even know it was there, but it was a nice surprise. The room is like a long hallway with no real entrance or exit. You can walk on through and enjoy the windows while walking to the end of the long pier.

The museum is FREE, which makes it a cheap deal. I gained a greater appreciation for stained glass windows after it. Reminded me of scenes from Beauty and the Beast.

It was basically divided into religious themed windows and botanical scenes. My favorite were the ones with the flowers. It's nice to walk through and see how beautiful they were. I think if this place charged admission, it would not survive. This place is a sweet little discovery while you are exploring the picturesque Navy Pier.

Fun little set up of stained glass pieces.

We came here at night, when we were almost the only people walking through, but it was very pretty!

Gorgeous displays of stained glass are everywhere. Plus, it's air-conditioned and neat diversion to get you out of the summer heat and humidity outside.

I also love that it's a free exhibit and you can take your time strolling through. There are quite a few Tiffany pieces here, which was surprising to me. I think my favorite piece would be the one of the four seasons, tucked away in a corner.

What if I said that there was a museum in Chicago that took one of the highlights of both the Field Museum and the Art Institutes - a Tiffany stained glass window - multiplied it by dozens and then stripped the admission price? What if I then said that this collection of beauty was virtually free of tourists?

Sounds like somewhere that a lot of Chicagoans would want to see, right?

But there's a catch which prevents this wonderful somewhere from really catching on...it's at the back of Navy Pier.

For those who are willing to walk all the way to the back of one of the levels of Hell, however, a world apart awaits. Culled from a private collection, this is not just another way for Navy Pier to fill one of their long, boring hallways. It really is a true museum. One that could easily survive freestanding, with over 150 stained glass windows. They're not all Tiffany (though there is a gallery dedicated to this manufacturer) but they're almost all beautiful. There is *almost* nothing chintzy or kitschy here like its location would denote.

Plus it's far from heavy handed religious iconography that comes to mind when people say "stained glass." Though there are windows depicting both forms of dominant religion in Chicago - a few pieces with Jesus and one of Michael Jordan (hey, I did say *almost* nothing kitschy).

Anyhow, the collection is actually very diverse. It ranges from simple (but beautiful) Celtic crosses to intricate works that look like painting that could sell for millions. And it even includes a case or two of smaller pieces from experimental students of today still keeping the art form alive.

I have never really been a huge fan of glass work (or Navy Pier), but this well curated collection made me a believer (though still not of Navy Pier). And, hey, at worst it was a moment of Zen (though one could get lost in viewing here for hours). Its natural lighting and classical music wafting from overhead is a peaceful oasis in this sea of tourist trappy chaos. If only it had its own entrance, it might be huge and not one of Chicago's obscure museum gems.

FREE & inside the Navy Pier so should be worth a visit if you're a tourist.

There are many huge stained glass windows to admire.

Garden w/ Fountain
The Four Seasons
Three Iris
Louis Comfort Tiffany: Landscape
Lots of religious ones
Windows designed by Frank Lloyd Wright - his Prairie School style was developed in Chicago

The area gets lots of foot traffic from people trying to leave or just arriving from the parking lots, also lots of tourists.

Its nothing spectacular, but I'm always up for random art collections.

If you're taking the out-of-town family and friends to the lovely tourist spot we call Navy Pier, at least roll through the gallery and view some beautiful pieces.

And don't skip over my favorite, Alfonse Mucha's Four Seasons. Its close to the beginning of the museum.

Definitely the best thing about Navy Pier, and it's free! A wide variety of styles are represented, from Tiffany panels to a rendering of Michael Jordan (obviously more contemporary). I like the "Palm Tree & Pyramid" window, and the piece where the glass is more like chunks - very unique.

Religious pieces are in evidence, of course, but that's not all: there are plenty of windows taken from Victorian houses (a time period when stained glass was very in vogue), some used in advertising and some that are straight-up art pieces.

Something fun to show visitors, or just to see yourself. Wish it was someplace more accessible than Navy Pier, though.

For my first visit to Navy Pier in February of this year, a lot of the famous attractions that we were interested in seeing were closed so my boyfriend and I just decided to walk around. We both like to go to museums so we were lucky to stumble upon this stained glass museum. I must say that I was impressed with the stained glass collection that they have here. There were so many beautiful pieces that I actually ran my battery in my phone dead from taking so many pictures! It's definitely a must see, especially since it's free!!