Did you know that 20 miles north from downtown Chicago, you can visit one of the 8 Baha'i Temples around the world?
The Baha'i House of Worship for North America is located at 100 Linden Ave, Willmette, Illinois. To give a little background on the Baha'i Faith, it is an independent world religion practiced throughout the world by more than 5 million people of nearly every nationality and ethnic background. They are attracted to the Faith by the belief that we all belong to one human race, that all religions share a common source and aim.
The House of Worship is open daily from 6am to 10pm and has no admission fee (Summer hours are 10am to 8 pm). There are brief prayer services held daily at 9:15am and 12:30pm.The temple is a domed structure surrounded by gardens and fountain. It takes the form of a 9 pointed star, a symbol of perfectness and completeness.On it's top sits a magnificent dome carved with Arab style floral patterns enclosed by huge ribs that meet at the top like hands folded in a prayer. Louis Bourgeois, architect of the temple, has designed it in such a way that it does not transcend any specific culture forming a unique structure where the world's inhabitants can come and be united for prayer. The tracery of the towers are interwined with all religious symbols of the past, demonstrating to each beholder of any religion. The building is a classic example of architecture combing neoclassical symmetry, Gothic ribbing, Renaissance dome along with Romnaseque and Islamic touch.
