Editing Unity Temple (section)

=== Events and tours ===
Over the years, Unity Temple has been included in tours of Wright's Oak Park buildings,<ref>See, for example: {{cite web |date=October 16, 1974 |title=Special Wright bus tour slated for Nov. 9 |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011973-12311974&e=unity%20temple&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19741016_english_4&df=1&dt=10 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=4 |via=River Forest Public Library |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=July 14, 1978 |title=Mining Oak Park's treasures... in a 9-day showcase of arts, architecture, history |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-mining-oak-parks-treasu/164836888/ |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=4.3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-mining-oak-parks-treasu/164836949/ 4.5] }}</ref> such as tours provided by the [[Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio]] Foundation (later the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust).<ref>See, for example: {{Cite news |last=Guarino |first=Jean |date=March 30, 1975 |title=Wright tour center is architectural hub |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-wright-tour-center-is-archi/164905961/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=News Journal |pages=10 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=McLane |first=Daisann |date=June 27, 1999 |title=Frugal Traveler; City of Skyscrapers and Sister Carrie |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/27/travel/frugal-traveler-city-of-skyscrapers-and-sister-carrie.html?searchResultPosition&#61;1 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> Unity Temple is also part of the annual "Wright Plus" walking tour, which includes visits to several buildings designed by Wright.<ref name="Zak 2001">{{Cite news |last=Zak |first=Victor |date=March 18, 2001 |title=Something so right in Oak Park |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-somethi/164072115/ |access-date=January 27, 2025 |work=The Central New Jersey Home News |pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-oak/164072926/ F5] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Megan |first=Graydon |date=January 24, 2025 |title=Lineup set for Oak Park's Wright Plus house tour, including some featured for first time |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/24/lineup-set-for-frank-lloyd-wright-house-tour-including-some-featured-for-first-time/ |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 }}</ref> By 2017, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust hosted tours of Unity Temple six days a week, in addition to more detailed tours once a week.<ref name="Dechter 2017" /> During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual tours of the temple were also hosted.<ref>{{cite web |last=Koziarz |first=Jay |date=April 3, 2020 |title=Take virtual tours of 12 Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieces each week |url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2020/4/3/21204455/frank-lloyd-wright-virtual-tours-coronavirus-unity-temple |access-date=January 31, 2025 |website=Curbed Chicago }}</ref> Since 2018, Unity Temple has been part of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, a collection of 13 buildings designed by Wright in Illinois.<ref>{{cite web |last=Malone |first=David |date=May 8, 2018 |title=Illinois Office of Tourism unveils new Frank Lloyd Wright Trail |url=https://www.bdcnetwork.com/home/news/55161732/illinois-office-of-tourism-unveils-new-frank-lloyd-wright-trail |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Building Design+Construction |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |date=May 4, 2018 |title=13 Wright sites on Illinois trail |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/cruises/frank-lloyd-wright-trail-illinois-gallery-20180504-photogallery.html |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times |issn=0458-3035 }}</ref>

The church began hosting concerts in late 1973.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1974c" /> Musicians frequently requested permission to perform there,<ref name="News Journal 1974" /><ref name="Oak Leaves 1976a" /> prompting the church to launch a regular concert series in 1974.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1975e" /> The series, which included music from a variety of genres, raised over $50,000 for the temple in its first quarter-century.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mauro |first=Lucia |date=May 6, 1998 |title=Unity Temple concert celebrates 25th |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011997-12311999&e=unity%20temple&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_river_forest_19980506_english_37&df=1&dt=10 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |pages=B3, [https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011997-12311999&e=unity%20temple&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_river_forest_19980506_english_37&df=1&dt=10 B6] }}</ref> The temple also hosted theatrical, ballet, and opera performances.<ref name="Gapp 1978" /> In addition, in 1996, the church started hosting [[avant-garde music]] performances as part of its Creative and Improvised Music program,<ref name="Reich 1997" /><ref name="Oak Leaves 19970226" /> which was hosted there for two years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reger |first=Rick |date=July 4, 1998 |title=Improvising trio embarks on search for ideas |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-improvising-trio-embarks/164373022/ |access-date=January 31, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=173 }}</ref>

Over the years, Unity Temple has hosted meetings for the local community,<ref name="Siry p. 103" /> such as meetings for other Universalist congregations,<ref>See, for instance: {{cite news |date=October 31, 1916 |title=Universalists Plan Merger of Two Churches: St. Paul's and Woodlawn Congregations May Be Consolidated. |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |page=11 |id={{ProQuest|174129264}} }}</ref> conventions of the National Young People's Christian Union,<ref>See, for example: {{Cite news |date=July 8, 1941 |title=Church Youth to Take Stand Opposing War |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-church-youth-to-take-sta/164624365/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=9 }}</ref> and dinners.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1957a" /> The church hosted a program called "Ways of Mankind" during 1954, in which members of the public were invited to listen to, and discuss, radio broadcasts about selected topics.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 8, 1954 |title=A Place By the Open Fire |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=%22unity%20universalist%22&i=f&d=01011950-12311959&m=between&ord=k1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19540408_english_59&df=31&dt=40 |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=49 |via=River Forest Public Library }}</ref> The church has also invited guest speakers, such as in 1964 when four liberal pastors gave speeches there.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 8, 1964 |title=Rev. Box to Be 2nd Speaker in Church Series |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-news-rev-box-to-be-2nd-speak/164640859/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=The Austin News |pages=5 }}</ref> Other programs at the church have included "Constructive Kids", an architectural program for primary-school children.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 26, 1992 |title=Wright Foundation has series for kids |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=restoration&i=f&d=01011991-12311994&e=unity%20temple&m=between&ord=e1,k1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19920226_english_78&df=1&dt=10 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=78 }}</ref> Over the years, Unity Temple has hosted public exhibits, such as a 1963 exhibit about Wright's architecture<ref name="Chicago Tribune 1963" /> and a 1978 exhibit of Wright's architectural drawings.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 26, 1978 |title=Wright drawings displayed |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/cardunal-free-press-wright-drawings-disp/164862212/ |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Cardunal Free Press |pages=6 |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |last=Teclaw |first=Nancy |date=September 6, 1978 |title=Sixty Onward |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=restoration&i=f&d=01011977-12311979&e=unity%20temple&m=between&ord=e1,k1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19780906_english_27&df=1&dt=10 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=27 |via=River Forest Public Library }}</ref>