The Lightner Museum is dedicated to enriching the lives of visitors through our extraordinary collection, historic building, and dynamic exhibitions and programs. Founded in 1948 by Chicago publisher, collector, and professional hobbyist Otto C. Lightner, the museum offers an immersive experience of art, architecture, history, and design. The museum occupies the former Alcazar Hotel, a Gilded Age resort hotel commissioned by railroad magnate Henry Flagler. Completed in 1888, the magnificent Spanish Renaissance Revival building was designed by the prominent architecture firm of Carrère and Hastings.

At the heart of the museum’s offerings are its compelling collections. From lamps by Louis Comfort Tiffany and exquisite shells and geological specimens from around the world, to porcelain produced at Sèvres and Victorian mechanical musical instruments, the Lightner Museum’s collections are rich, eclectic, and engaging.

Steeped in history, the Lightner Museum is not simply about the past. Just as Otto Lightner connected with people across America who wanted to enrich their lives through collecting, the Lightner Museum today offers new perspectives through its exhibitions, events, and educational programs.