Entry No. 102 — the Chicago file — filed under: haunted
Tao Chicago (former Chicago Historical Society Building)
This Richardsonian Romanesque landmark at 632 N Dearborn, designed by Henry Ives Cobb and completed in 1892 as the Chicago Historical Society's headquarters (replacing the building lost in the Great Fire), was reborn as a nightclub — the Limelight in the mid-1980s, then Excalibur from 1989 — a building long rumored to have cold spots and grand-staircase apparitions, now the Tao Asian bistro and nightclub.
The story
In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire turned the Chicago Historical Society’s original archives to ash. Determined never to get burned again, the organization commissioned architect Henry Ives Cobb to construct an unyielding fortress at Dearborn and Ontario streets. Completed in 1892, the heavy Richardsonian Romanesque landmark was clad in rough-hewn granite and anchored by thick interior masonry—a fireproof vault designed to keep the city's paper trail safe forever.
The Historical Society vacated the premises in 1931, leaving behind a stone shell that spent decades housing the Institute of Design and music recording studios before reinventing itself as the Limelight nightclub in 1985 and Excalibur in 1989. Today, Tao Asian Bistro & Nightclub operates inside the granite citadel, placing a 20-foot Kwan Yin statue and koi pond alongside the original 1892 timber ceilings and masonry walls. But beneath the bass lines and bottle service, the heavy structure keeps its old ghosts: security guards and floor staff have spent decades passing down stories of sudden cold spots and apparitions drifting along the original grand staircase—though you didn't hear it from us.
What it's like
Approaching 632 N Dearborn feels less like pulling up to a River North venue and more like approaching a dark medieval armory. If you're heading straight to the upstairs club on a weekend, prepare for strict security at the door, eye-watering drink prices, and dense crowds around the velvet ropes. The insider play is to book dinner in the vaulted main hall downstairs: you get to eat under the historic wooden beams and wander up the grand staircase before the late-night chaos peaks.
The move: Book dinner in the vaulted main hall, then wander up the original grand staircase -- longtime staff still tell newcomers the building's original occupants haven't fully left.
- 📍 River North
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 632 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Three Dots and a Dash — Trade Tao's fortress-scale mega-club energy for high-concept tiki cocktails hidden in a subterranean alley bar two blocks south.
- The Drifter — Head four blocks west to drink in the basement of the Green Door Tavern, one of Chicago's few surviving pre-fire wooden frame buildings.
- Eastland Disaster Site & Memorial Marker — Walk five minutes south to the riverfront marker where 844 passengers drowned in 1915 during Chicago's deadliest maritime disaster.
Good to know
What was the building used for before Tao?
Architect Henry Ives Cobb designed it in 1892 as the Chicago Historical Society's fireproof headquarters. It later housed the Institute of Design, recording studios, and high-profile nightclubs Limelight and Excalibur before Tao opened in 2018.
Why is the building rumored to be haunted?
Night-shift staff and security teams across multiple nightclub eras have reported phantom footsteps, abrupt cold spots, and sightings of apparitions lingering around the original grand staircase.
What is the best way to experience the historic architecture?
Book an early dining reservation in the ground-floor bistro. This allows you to admire the 1892 granite masonry, vaulted timber ceilings, and central staircase without contending with the late-night club choke points.
Do I need to check hours before going?
Yes. Hours for the restaurant and the upstairs nightclub differ, so verify current schedules directly with Tao before heading out.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · taogroup.com · cbsnews.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-19