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    28 Photos of Gay Bathhouse History in Chicago

    Advocate.com Editors
    | 11/29/17

    28 Photos of Gay Bathhouse History in Chicago

    Chicago's oldest gay bathhouse closed forever on New Year's Day 2018.

    Artwork on the walls by Dom Orejudos, a.k.a. Etienne

    Artwork on the walls by Dom Orejudos, a.k.a. Etienne

    Chicago lost a piece of gay history in 2018, when Man's Country, the city's oldest bathhouse, closed its doors after 44 years.

    The private club went out with flair, celebrating its last day with a 13-hour party that began on New Year's Eve 2017 and lasted into the next morning, according to the Chicago Tribune.

    The Uptown site was a backdrop to some of the biggest achievements and challenges faced by Chicago's LGBTQ community. Author and historian Owen Keehnen said the loss of Man's Country was "a gay version of seeing the house you grew up in torn down. It was everything. A place of sexual liberation, social ease with being gay and community building." The property was to be demolished to make way for condominiums.

    Scroll down for a last look inside.

    Entering the hallowed and historic hallways

    Entering the hallowed and historic hallways

    More Etienne artwork on the stairs

    More Etienne artwork on the stairs

    Checking out the check-ins.

    Checking out the check-ins.

    "We are family..."

    "We are family..."

    Locker room atmosphere

    Locker room atmosphere

    "Someone left the cake out in the rain..."

    "Someone left the cake out in the rain..."

    "Last night a DJ saved my life…"

    "Last night a DJ saved my life\u2026"

    Looks like it'll be spring water

    Looks like it'll be spring water

    Etienne's stairway to heaven

    Etienne's stairway to heaven

    Locker room encounters allowed

    Locker room encounters allowed

    "You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell..."

    "You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell..."

    "Sweet dreams are made of this..."

    "Sweet dreams are made of this..."

    Desk set

    Desk set

    The office of the big guy, with a memorial rose or two

    The office of the big guy, with a memorial rose or two

    Giving customers the once over

    Giving customers the once over

    "Yes, it's my last chance, for romance, tonight..."

    "Yes, it's my last chance, for romance, tonight..."

    Don't say we didn't warn you

    Don't say we didn't warn you

    A cozy corner

    A cozy corner

    Vintage art by Etienne

    Vintage art by Etienne

    "So let's dance, the last dance..."

    So let's dance, the last dance

    Showgirls

    Showgirls

    Don't get lost

    Don't get lost

    Ron Ehemann

    Ron Ehemann

    Harry Cross

    Harry Cross

    "Cause when I'm bad, I'm so, so bad..."

    "Cause when I'm bad, I'm so, so bad..."

    The end of an era

    The end of an era

    Harry and Ron in the lobby with the mahogany elephant

    Harry and Ron in the lobby with the mahogany elephant

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