Let The Building Speak to You: Two Decades in the Architectural Trenches

Join us for the next installment of the Charnley Conversations lecture series, hosted by the Society of Architectural Historians and the Charnley-Persky House Museum.

About the event:
Writer Robert Sharoff and photographer William Zbaren have jointly created a number of well researched, authentically documented and beautiful books on architecture. They believe in narrative, biography, accuracy, and beauty, with curiosity at the heart of their work. Join them on their journey including their first book American City: Detroit 1835-2005, and their most recent The Wrigley Building: The Making of an Icon. Mr. Sharoff and Mr. Zbaren were honored at SAH's 2025 SAH Celebrates.

Join us for glass of wine at 5:30PM, followed by the presentation at 6:00PM, and more conversation with the speakers afterwards. Proceeds will support the continued preservation of the Charnley-Persky House Museum.

Since this is a program with limited seating, please cancel your reservation if you are unable to attend.

Venue:
This lecture takes place at the Charnley-Persky House Museum, a National Historic Landmark building located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. Designed by famed Chicago architect Louis Sullivan with assistance from his at-the-time junior draftsman Frank Lloyd Wright, the Charnley-Persky House (1891-1892) is recognized as a pivotal work of modern American architecture. We look forward to welcoming you into this unique space for an enlightening talk about preservation. In the meantime, take a virtual tour of the house.