The Bahai Temple of Chicago, officially known as the Bahai House of Worship, is one of the nine Bahai temples in the world. Located in Wilmette on the scenic shores of Lake Michigan, this is the only Bahai temple in the US, dedicated to practicing the Bahai religion. It is known as the “Mother Temple of the West” by those of the Bahai religion.

If you are new to the Bahai faith, here is a quick summary about it:

The Bahai religion and history at a glance

The Bahai religion originated in the 19th century in the Middle East. The faith was founded on the teachings of the Báb and Baha’u’llah, both of whom promoted the inclusiveness and oneness of all religions. The core of the Bahai faith is that all divine messengers across religions are manifestations of God. They all work towards uplifting the morals and ethics of society. 

The Bahai do not believe in any rituals in their worship. There are no priests or clergy in their formal administration and no initiation ceremonies to join the faith. 

Currently, there are over 5 million Bahais around the world as mentioned in the Bahai World News Service. 

Bahai religious practices include:

• Daily prayer 
• Meditation 
• Reflections on sacred texts such as the Book of Certitude and Hidden Words
• Abstinence from narcotics and alcohol

Bahai temples around the world

Now that you have a brief understanding of the Bahai religion, let’s delve into what this article is originally about – the Bahai temple of Chicago and its counterparts across the globe.

There are Bahai temples across the world in every continent, with a few local ones that have recently opened to the public:

1. Bahá’í House of Worship of Australasia – in Sydney, Australia
2. Bahá’í House of Worship of South America – in Santiago, Chile
3. Bahá’í House of Worship of the Pacific – in Apia, Samoa
4. Bahá’í House of Worship of North America – in Wilmette, US
5. Bahá’í House of Worship of Central America – in Panama City, Panama
6. Bahá’í House of Worship of Europe – in Hofheim-Langenhain, Germany
7. Bahá’í House of Worship of the Indian Subcontinent – in New Delhi, India
8. Bahá’í House of Worship of Africa – Kampala, Uganda

Newly opened Bahai houses of worship include the ones in:

1. Papua New Guinea (in 2024)
2. Vanuatu (in 2019)
3. Kenya (in 2019)

Each one of these Bahai temples is stunning in its architecture and landscaping. People often describe the vibe of these houses of worship as “calm” “serene” and “peaceful.” Thousands flock to these religious institutions to seek refuge in their quiet and meditative atmosphere.

Bahai temples share certain design elements that make them unique and breathtaking. Here’s a look at some of their architectural elements:

The number “nine” in Bahai temple architecture

All Bahai temples or “Mashriqu’l-Adhkars” have nine sides and nine doorways. The number “nine” is considered auspicious by Bahai followers who view it as the highest single number, hence the largest single unifier. It often symbolizes that there are many ways to reach the singular God.

Bahai teachings by Abdu’l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha’u’llah, also emphasize this in his vision for the places of worship: 

“The Mashriqu’l-Adhkar must be circular,” he proclaimed. “It has nine avenues, nine gardens, nine fountains, so it is nine on nine, all nines. It is like a beautiful bouquet. Just imagine an edifice of that beauty in the center, very lofty, surrounded centrally by gardens, variegated flowers, with nine avenues interlacing nine gardens, nine ponds and nine fountains, and see how delightful it must be! That is the way it should be. It is matchless, most beautiful! Such is the design.” 

Abdu’l-Baha also suggested rendering a portion of the temple to community service for people from all backgrounds and age groups.

Now lets take a look at one of Chicago’s major spiritual landmarks – the Bahai House of Worship.

Bahai Temple of Chicago – Visiting the Bahai House of Worship in Wilmette

When I was searching for lesser known attractions in Chicago, the Bahai House of Worship in Wilmette came as a suggestion from a friend. After researching the temple and its proximity to another Chicago attraction (the National Botanic Garden), I ventured out to see the place for myself.

Google address of the Bahai Temple of Chicago: 100 Linden Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091

This beautiful masterpiece, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan, came as a calming retreat in a busy week of city travel. 

Its white limestone structure, ornate with carvings and designs, was topped with a glistening 72-foot Renaissance dome that shone brightly in the afternoon sunlight. The ribs of the dome came together at the top like hands in prayer.

Elaborate gardens with landscaped pathways and fountains led the way to the nine temple entrances. Engraved into the walls were symbols from various religions around the world such as: 

• The Star of David
• Crucifixes
• Crescents 
• Swastikas

A recurring symbol was circles inside circles which symbolized the unification of all religions.

Inside was a large auditorium with a towering dome ceiling. Arabic engravings adorned the walls and high ceilings, creating an enchanting environment most suitable for meditation and prayer. It is said that the auditorium seats 1100 guests and is visited by over 250,000 people yearly.

Architect of the Bahai Temple of Chicago

Louis Bourgeois was the architect who designed the Bahai House of Worship in Chicago. He had been a member of the Bahai faith since 1907 and had submitted designs for the building to the delegates onboard. Upon selection, he traveled to Haifa in Israel to meet Abdu’l-Bahá and discuss his views on the temple design.

He then embarked on the construction of the temple. Two lots of land were purchased in 1907, and construction formally followed in 1920. After three decades, the temple was completed and opened to the public in 1953. To date, it stands as a symbol of beauty in Chicago and was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Below is a video on the Travel and Trots’ YouTube channel about the Bahai Temple of Chicago:

Bahai prayers and programs at the Bahai Temple of Chicago

While visiting this Bahai temple, you may naturally transcend into a meditative state which may help you to participate in their programs like:

Programs at the Bahai Temple of Chicago include:

1. Daily devotional programs – prayers read for 10-15 minutes inside the temple
2. Sunday devotionals – theme-based program along with cappella music
3. Discussions on sacred texts and the Bahai faith
4. Monthly meditation sessions of 45 minutes each

You can find the updated list of prayer times and programs on the official website. Many of these programs are offered in Spanish as well.

The Welcome Center has a short film and interpretative signage that teaches about the history of the Bahai religion and prayers. There is a bookshop as well for those wanting to purchase bahai texts and religious materials.

Summary

The Bahai House of Worship in Wilmette one of the must-see attractions of Chicago for anyone who enjoys history and culture. The Bahai temple and those of the Bahai religion have their own stories to tell and experiences to share. You can soak in the architectural marvels of this place in along with its variegated gardens and water bodies or take some time to slow down and relax inside its all-encompassing dome.

If you found this article about the Bahai Temple of Chicago helpful, you can share it on social media or leave a comment below. You can also pin this post or bookmark it for your next Chicago trip!

Consider subscribing to Travel and Trots’ official YouTube handle if you enjoyed the video.

Also, if you have your own stories to share about the Bahai faith, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

References:

1. Chicago Architecture Center – https://www.architecture.org/online-resources/buildings-of-chicago/baha-i-house-of-worship
2. Bahais of the United States – https://www.bahai.us/ 

More articles on Travel and Trots website:

1. Vacation Guide To Assateague Island – Assateague Island’s Prime Attractions, Activities and More
2. Spiritual Journeys – History of the Taj Mahal in New Delhi, India