Chicago's oldest gay bathhouse closed forever on New Year's Day 2018.
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
More Etienne artwork on the stairs
Checking out the check-ins.
"We are family..."
Locker room atmosphere
"Someone left the cake out in the rain..."
"Last night a DJ saved my life…"
Looks like it'll be spring water
Etienne's stairway to heaven
Locker room encounters allowed
"You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell..."
"Sweet dreams are made of this..."
Desk set
The office of the big guy, with a memorial rose or two
Giving customers the once over
"Yes, it's my last chance, for romance, tonight..."
Don't say we didn't warn you
A cozy corner
Vintage art by Etienne
"So let's dance, the last dance..."
Showgirls
Don't get lost
Ron Ehemann
Harry Cross
"Cause when I'm bad, I'm so, so bad..."
The end of an era
Harry and Ron in the lobby with the mahogany elephant
