The quiet serenity surrounding this outstanding building is evident in the spiritual truths that it represents: the oneness of God, the oneness of mankind and the oneness of religion.
The auditorium, with its walls of lace-like ornamentation and its dome rising 135 feet above the main floor, offers a scene of unsurpassed beauty. The groundbreaking for the House occurred on May 1, 1912, in a ceremony blessed with the presence and participation of Abdu'l-Baha. However, construction did not begin in earnest until 1920. It was formally dedicated on May 1, 1953.
Like all Baha'i Houses of Worship, the House in Wilmette has nine sides and a dome. It is surrounded by exquisite gardens and fountains. In the basement of the House of Worship is Foundation Hall (the oldest part of the Temple) and the Cornerstone Room containing the cornerstone laid by Abdul Baha and a chair he once used.
In 1978 the Baha'i House of Worship was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States government.
