The Dome
Sit in the quiet auditorium under the white, perforated dome that filters the light.
Bahá'í House of Worship
A lace-like white dome on the shore of Lake Michigan, the oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship in the world and open to people of every faith, north of Chicago.
The Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, just north of Chicago, is a white dome of lace-like concrete on the shore of Lake Michigan. Dedicated in 1953, it is the oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship in the world, and like all of them it has nine sides and nine doors, welcoming people of every faith.
Inside the dome there's no clergy or sermon, only quiet and readings from the world's scriptures. Outside, formal gardens and fountains step down toward the street.
- Best Time
- May–October, when the gardens bloom
- Time Needed
- 1 hour
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Every day; check bahaitemple.org for hours
- Getting There
- In Wilmette, about 40 minutes north of downtown Chicago. Take the CTA Purple Line to Linden, then walk ten minutes.
What to See
3 of 3 are freeThe Gardens
Nine formal gardens with fountains and pools around the building.
Welcome Center
Exhibits on the Bahá'í Faith and how the temple's concrete ornament was made.
Know Before You Go
- Entry is free, and there's no collection.
- Devotional programs are short readings; anyone may sit in.
Where to Stay
Visit from Chicago.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Something wrong or out of date?
Traveler Reviews
Sign in and mark Bahá'í House of Worship as visited to write a review.
Go Next
Must-SeeChicago
Illinois
The birthplace of the skyscraper, on the shore of a lake the size of a sea.
Full Guide
If You're NearbyMilwaukee
Wisconsin
Breweries on Lake Michigan, the Harley-Davidson Museum and a winged art museum by Calatrava.
Full Guide
If You're NearbyShrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Wisconsin
A hilltop Catholic shrine above La Crosse, Wisconsin, with a stone church, a rosary walk, Stations of the Cross and a candle chapel on 100 wooded acres.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the Midwest list.