Charles Gates Dawes House: A Glimpse into Evanston's Past

Step back in time at the Charles Gates Dawes House, a magnificent Chateauesque mansion overlooking Lake Michigan and a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1894, this Evanston gem was home to Charles Gates Dawes, U.S. Vice President under Calvin Coolidge and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, from 1909 until his death in 1951. Designed by New York architect Henry Edwards Ficken, the house boasts a distinctive apricot-colored brick exterior adorned with elaborate red sandstone ornamentation. Inside, visitors are greeted by intricately carved woodwork, stained-glass windows, and soaring stairways. The house features twenty-five rooms, including a cherry-paneled library, a vaulted dining room with a musician's gallery, and twelve fireplaces.A tour through the house offers a glimpse into the Dawes family's life in the 1920s, showcasing their collection of furnishings and artwork. Each room reflects their lifestyle, from the Great Hall to the reception parlors and historic kitchen. The Evanston History Center, housed within the Dawes House, also offers exhibits focusing on Evanston history.Charles Gates Dawes was a prominent figure, serving as a WWI Brigadier General, Ambassador to Great Britain, and the first federal budget director. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1925 for the Dawes Plan, which aimed to alleviate Germany's war reparations burden after World War I. Dawes' commitment to community service is reflected in his provision that the house remain a center for Evanston history, open to the community.