Early Chicago Skyscrapers

I'm not too sure about this one. They're mostly nondescript office buildings (okay, one has apartments) which I checked out after the Democratic convention. There are three of them right next to the Harold Washington Library at the south end of the fabled loop. 

I can understand why much of the architecture of Chicago would be considered WHS-worthy, but aside from the age, there's not any reason for these buildings over any of the others there. The city has so much great architecture that the choice is a mystery. Also, all of these are private and the owners want to demolish them and build the best of what architects have to offer. 

Worth the visit if you are there on other business. 

In May of 2022, I took an hour-plus out of my business-trip itinerary in Chicago to visit the buildings in this serial property. In a notable fail of the expedition, I did not read Kyle's review below prior to the walk. I assumed that all of these buildings allowed some form of easy public access to explore the interiors - and would actually have something to offer in that respect. But only a few of them do. And because I was moving northward from the southernmost of the buildings, the first five that I stopped by did not exhibit anything of value in their interiors (or could not really be entered). So, I mostly gave up and did not even attempt to enter Marquette or Rookery, which Kyle marked as the most impressive. I did step into Monadnock - only mildly interesting, certainly not anything exceptional.

From the exterior, Rookery, Fisher, and Sullivan Center (aka Schlesinger & Mayer Building, aka Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company Store) exhibit the most outstanding features. Conversely, if you stand far enough from the Auditorium Building on Congress Plaza to take in its façade together with the neighboring Fine Arts Building, you may find yourself justifiably perplexed why the former - and not the richer-in-features latter - is part of the inscription (the answer likely lies in the Auditorium Theater being part of the eponymous building - but as Kyle noted, you can only see it if you attend a performance there).

I …

All nine sites of this serial nomination can be covered in a 30 minute walk, in fact several of these iconic early skyscrapers are adjacent to each other. I visited each without too much difficulty, however there are different levels of satisfaction. For example, some structures have little value remaining within as the interior has either been changed, significantly altered, or completed gutted. For visitors, there are 2 wonders included in this nomination that perhaps justify inscription together, regardless of the other sites. 

1) Rookery Building (1888) This structure is the gem of the ensemble and is note-worthy for both its exterior and magnificent interior lobby. The later was redesigned by a rising star at the time, Frank Lloyd Wright, who in 1905 was in his late 30's. The interior really is stunning. In addition, there is a Frank Lloyd Trust office and store in the lobby with handy FLW architecture maps of the Chicago Metropolitan area.

2) Marquette Building (1895) This is a must-see component of the Early Chicago Skyscrapers nomination. The front entrance is adorned with scenes of Chicago History. The History of Chicago and the Great Lakes region are even more richly adorned in the lobby, which is open to the public. Visitors are rewarded after exiting the lobby going straight past the National Historic Landmark sign to an informative display about the Chicago School or Architecture. Interesting panels about the History of the Marquette Building and this period of construction is displayed, providing excellent context to …