In this edition of ‘Lost Legends,’ we look at what is often considered the worlds first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building. The groundbreaking building stood 10 stories at a height of 138 feet tall at the time of its initial completion in 1885. In 1891 two floors were added bringing the building to the height of 180 feet.
In this edition of ‘Lost Legends,’ we focus on the Schiller Building, a historic tower in The Loop that was pivotal in Chicago’s cultural and architectural history. From its opening in 1892 to its controversial demolition in 1961, its story exhibits a familiar arc in this series: one of architectural innovation, cultural significance, loss, and reflection.
Chicago’s Central Station, once a hub of vibrant activity, represents a significant chapter in American railway history. Constructed in 1893, the station was designed by esteemed architect Bradford L. Gilbert to accommodate the traffic demands of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Located near Roosevelt Road and Michigan Avenue, the station’s strategic position was instrumental for moving people and goods within the city and beyond. Notably, there was another dismantled passenger station known as Grand Central Station, which was highlighted in a previous Lost Legends article.
As evident from our last installment of ‘Lost Legends’ showcasing the Prentice Women’s Hospital, once-celebrated designs may reveal impracticalities as functional demands evolve. While not “legendary” in a traditional sense, the story of the construction and later removal of Lake Shore Drive’s zig-zag ‘S’ curve conveys a similar notion of a city adapting to changing infrastructural needs.
