Rain-shower heads. Heated towel racks. Smart toilets that do everything but go for you. For many homebuyers, a spa-like bathroom is a must. But for Chicagoans of a century ago, these luxuries would be as mind-blowing as entering the Baths of Caracalla. As late as the early 20th century, not every home even had a tub. Between 1894 and 1920, dozens of public bathhouses were erected around the city to meet the sanitary needs of those without. The last closed in 1979. Only four remain standing, all converted to residential use.

One is the former Lincoln Public Bath at 1019 North Wolcott Avenue. After a top-to-bottom refresh, it has been on and off the market since June and was relisted in January at $5.75 million. The 9,740-square-foot residence occupies an oversize 62.5-by-125-foot lot, much of it dedicated to a massive patio, complete with an outdoor kitchen and bar and scaled-down basketball court. Inside, the home boasts six bedrooms, six full and two half baths, and an eye-popping, 60-foot-long great room, graced with a double-height ceiling and enormous windows and opening onto a spacious terrace.

The primary bedroom suite on the main floor includes a den and a walk-in closet, as well as a fireplace and a sculptured soaking tub. The lower level boasts a pair of two-bedroom suites, each with a living room and kitchen, ideal for in-laws or guests who like their independence. The expansive home’s other rooms are adaptable: One is currently used as a massage room, another a home office. Here and there, the contemporary, gallery-like spaces are punctuated with remnants of the past, such as exposed brick and classical pilasters. If these walls could talk.