The Chicago Water Tower is defined by its castellated, castle-like exterior, constructed from yellowing Joliet limestone. Completed in eighteen sixty-nine by architect William W. Boyington, the tower was designed to house a one hundred…
Chicago History Tour
I've put together this route to guide you through Chicago's transformation from a fire-ravaged town into a towering metropolis. We will trace the city's growth through its most iconic historic buildings, from early high-rises to grand exhibition palaces.
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1. Chicago Water Tower
2. The Chicago Theatre
The Chicago Theatre is recognizable by the towering vertical sign that spells out the city's name in glowing letters, a landmark that rises nearly six stories above State Street. Built in nineteen twenty-one, this structure was designed by…
3. The Rookery Building
The Rookery Building on South LaSalle Street is recognizable by its heavy, ornate facade of red brick, stone, and terracotta, which incorporates Romanesque, Venetian, and Moorish design motifs. Completed in eighteen eighty-eight by…
4. Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum is anchored by an ornate, Italianate Victorian mansion built in eighteen fifty-six. This building, standing at eight hundred South Halsted Street, is one of the oldest in central Chicago. It once served as…
5. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is identifiable by the massive, weathered Ionic columns and the row of caryatids—female figures carved into the stone—lining its exterior. This building is the only structure left standing from…
6. Pullman National Historical Park
A majestic clock tower rises above this neighborhood, marking the site of the former Pullman Palace Car Company. This is Pullman National Historical Park, the first unit of the National Park Service in Chicago. Built in eighteen eighty as…