On December 13 Chicago’s Grand Avenue Bridge turned 100 years old. The bridge opened on in 1913 on what was once called Indiana Avenue—which makes sense as it is just […]
Category: Chicago
Q&A with Chicago River Bridges author Patrick McBriarty
Patrick T. McBriarty is a writer and creative producer based in Chicago and the co-producer, with Stephen Hatch, of the documentary film Chicago Drawbridges. He recently answered some questions about […]
Skyscraper of the Day, Part 20
Field Building, 135 S. La Salle Street. Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White, 1934. View from southeast. (Contemporary post card, collection of the author) Announced on September 29, 1929 just days […]
Woodson Library event for The Negro in Illinois taped for BookTV
On Saturday, September 28, the Carter G. Woodson Regional branch of The Chicago Public Library was the site of a celebration of the publication of The Negro in Illinois. The event included a […]
Skyscraper of the Day, Part 19
Conway Building, corner of Clark and Washington Streets. D. H. Burnham & Co., 1913. View from northeast. (Contemporary post card, collection of the author) Four large neoclassical office blocks designed […]
Happy birthday to film director John Sayles
Film director, screenwriter and novelist John Sayles was born on September 28, 1950. An icon of independent filmmaking, Sales began his career working for B-movie legend Roger Corman. David Shumway, author […]
Skyscraper of the Day, Part 18
Chicago Stock Exchange, view from northeast. (Contemporary post card, collection of the author) The Stock Exchange, a project to fund a new trading room through the provision of office […]
Skyscraper of the Day, Part 17
Rookery Building. View from northwest (contemporary post card, collection of the author). The Rookery became Chicago’s center of architectural, contracting, engineering, and subcontracting expertise. It was intended to be the […]
Inside the Architecture of Barry Byrne
Vincent Michael, author of The Architecture of Barry Byrne, recently appeared on WTTW-TV’s Chicago Tonight program to discuss the apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright who brought the Prairie School of Architecture […]
Skyscraper of the Day, Part 16
Masonic Temple, corner of Randolph and State Streets. Burnham and Root, 1892 (demolished, 1939). (120 Photographic View of Chicago, Rand McNally, 1912) Buildings braced by sway-rods typically had two or […]
Skyscraper of the Day, Part 15
Reliance Building. View from northeast. (120 Photographic View of Chicago, Rand McNally, 1909) The Reliance emerged from unpromising circumstances. Elevator engineer and contractor William E. Hale hired Burnham & Root […]
Skyscraper of the Day, Part 14
Tacoma Building, corner of La Salle and Madison Streets. Holabird and Roche, 1889 (demolished, 1929). (contemporary postcard, collection of the author) Masonry veneers began to appear on Chicago skyscrapers in […]