The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced on Monday the late-March reopening of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Memorial Hall and Rotunda at the Chicago Cultural Center following a year-long restoration. Free public programming during a special Reopening Weekend, March 26–27, will include tours, talks, dance performances and more in addition to continuing exhibitions, Welcome Center and Learning Lab events and shopping at BUDDY — also celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Chicago Cultural Center, which opened in 1897. The meticulous restoration of the art glass dome and decorative finishes in the G.A.R. rooms, a Civil War memorial, was made possible by a generous grant of services valued at $15,425,000 to the City of Chicago. (The Chicago Cultural Center is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes; the restoration of the Tiffany dome in Preston Bradley Hall was completed in 2008.) Following the restoration, the G.A.R. rooms will reflect their historic appearance, but also more ably facilitate a wider range of free and diverse cultural programming. This includes upgraded lighting, electrical and Wi-Fi — and opportunities for artists and organizations to activate the space through performances and exhibitions. For more information, visit www.ChicagoCulturalCenter.org.