Visit
A Home for Poetry in Chicago
The first space in Chicago dedicated solely to the art of poetry, the Poetry Foundation building fulfills Harriet Monroe’s dream that Poetry magazine would help poets pursue their art, increase public interest in poetry, and raise the profile of poetry in our culture. Poetry magazine’s first permanent home in its more than 100-year history features:
- A 40,000-volume poetry library
- A performance space for free public events
- An exhibition gallery
- Poetry Foundation staff offices
Directions to the Poetry Foundation
Our building is located at the corner of Dearborn Street and Superior Street. The entrance begins by the ramp or steps at the corner where the tree lined courtyard opens, part of the building’s slowly-unfolding spatial sequence revealed space by space, not unlike a poem is revealed line by line. Walking through the tree lined courtyard leads past the performance space and gallery, to the doors which are just before the library.
If traveling by bus or train:
The Poetry Foundation can be reached via CTA: the Chicago Avenue stops on the Red Line or Brown “L” Lines (the Red Line is closest); or, CTA Bus Route 22 to Huron and Clark (Southbound) or Huron and Dearborn (Northbound).
If traveling by car:
The nearest parking garages include InterPark Parking Garage, located at 750 N. Dearborn St., and Standard Parking located at 1 W. Superior St. Discounted parking is available at 1 W. Superior for Poetry Foundation guests. Purchase your parking here using the access code PF. Metered street parking is also available in the vicinity of the building.
Accessibility
Ramp access is available on Dearborn Street. All public spaces, including an all-gender restroom, are accessible, and located on the ground level. For questions, please call (312) 787-7070.
Group Visits
All groups of more than 10 people must register before visiting the Poetry Foundation. Please contact [email protected] to register.
Private Meeting Space for Nonprofits
The Poetry Foundation makes its Pegasus Room available to 501(c)3 nonprofit cultural and arts organizations for private internal meetings.
Meeting space request details:
- Private meeting space for up to 50 people.
- Limited availability on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM–5 PM.
- These hours include time for setup and take down.
- Please submit your request six to eight weeks in advance.
- Requests are considered in the order they arrive.
- The space is not available to rent for public events.
Complete this form to request the meeting space.
About the Building
Designed by the Chicago firm John Ronan Architects, the building helps the Foundation carry out its mission: to recognize the power of words to transform lives and work to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry.
Since its opening in June 2011, the structure has been praised widely. The November 2011 issue of Architectural Record notes, “In keeping with the art form it serves, the new Poetry Foundation is a respectful, restrained building that employs an economy of means and methods, just as a good poem employs an economy of language.”
The building complies with the Silver Level of the US Green Building Council’s LEED Rating System.
Hours
Wednesday - Saturday: 11 AM - 5 PM
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday: Closed
Free Events
The Poetry Foundation hosts free events in person and online, including poetry readings, musical performances, artist collaborations, literary festivals, staged plays, and more.