Chicago's Prairie Avenue
This is a video of Chicago's historic Prairie Avenue from March 6, 2016.
1829 S Prairie Avenue Chicago, IL 60616
Lauren Schuh Dayton
[Wikipedia] Prairie Avenue District
The Prairie Avenue District is a historic district in the Near South Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. It includes the 1800 and 1900 blocks of South Prairie Avenue and the 1800 block of South Indiana, and 211-217 East Cullerton. It was the site of the Battle of Fort Dearborn and became the city's most fashionable residential district after the Great Chicago Fire. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on December 27, 1979. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 1972. The John J. Glessner House, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson in 1885–1886 at 1800 S. Prairie Avenue, has been restored as a historic house museum and is open for public tours. In 2006, the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, a non-profit organization was formed to provide representation for thousands of South Loop residents, including the Prairie District, Central Station and Museum Park, Motor Row, the South Michigan Ave Corridor, as well as other areas of the Near South Side.
Marshall Field Mansion, Historic Prairie Avenue District
Marshall Field was the founder of Marshall Field Department Store which has been a fixture in the Chicago area for decades built his mansion in the Prairie District just south of Chicago's commercial loop district. Macy's now owns Marshall Fields.
Hutchinson Street Historic District Chicago, Illinois
Marshall Fields (Macy's State Street) Chicago
Marshall Field and Company Building or Macy's at State Street, in Chicago, Illinois, was the flagship location of the Marshall Field's chain of department stores and, since 2006, is the main Chicago location of the Macy's chain. The building is located in the Chicago Loop community area in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and it takes up the entire city block bounded clockwise from the west by North State Street, East Randolph Street, North Wabash Avenue, and East Washington Street.[3] Marshall Field's established numerous important business firsts in this building,[4] and it is regarded as one of the three most influential establishments in the nationwide development of the department store.[5] Both the building name and the name of the stores formerly headquartered at this building changed names on September 9, 2006 as a result of the merger of the May Department Stores (Marshall Field's former parent) with the Federated Department Stores which led to the integration of the Marshall Field's stores into the Macy's retailing network.[6]
The building, which is the second largest store in the world,[7] was both declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 1978,[2][1][8] and it was designated a Chicago Landmark on November 1, 2005.[9] The building architecture is known for its multiple atria and for having been built in stages over the course of more than two decades.[10] Its ornamentation includes a Tiffany & Co. mosaic ceiling and a pair of well-known outdoor clocks, which serve as symbols of the store.[10]
Motor Row Historic District, Chicago Locomobile, Hudson, Marmon More
It looks like a sad ghost town for the most part as serious redevelopment of this area has yet to take place. That's too bad because the area is full of history beyond that regarding car dealers. Other attractions to area include Prairie St. home to some of the cities oldest mansions and at 2140 Michigan Chess studios.
Here is how one of the markers describes what was the original magnificent mile.
In 1902 there were only 600 automobiles in the Chicagoland area. Within thirty years there were 90,000 cars. The interest in motor vehicles continued to expand rapidly with 300,000 on the road by 1935. Many of the automobiles purchased during this time frame were purchased on Chicago's Motor Row.
A gateway to opulence for the automobile industry was fashioned on south Michigan Avenue. The buildings that served as showrooms for the automobile manufacturers were custom made for every aspect of sales and service. Architects such as Christian Eckstrom, Alfred Alscheuler, Philip Maher, William Holabird, Martin Roche and Albert Kahn crafted these multi-storied structures for the repair, painting, storage and selling of the most modern advance in private transportation: the automobile.
This group of commercial buildings here on the Near South Side of Chicago is considered to be the largest, intact early automobile row in the United States. At it's peak as many as 116 different automobile manufacturers were represented within several blocks of downtown Chicago. Ford, Fiat, Buick, Cadillac, Pierce Arrow, Locomobile, Marmon and Hudson, to name a few, were displayed for the cunsumer's pleasure. The excitment and pulsating atmosphere was matched only by the smooth ride and shiny exterior of a brand new motor vehicle.
This video features four of the buildings.
The Locomobile of America Co. showrooms was at 2000 South Michigan Avenue . Designed by architects Jenny, Mundie & Jensen it opened in 1909. A three-story corner building .. of reinforced concrete trimmed in brick and terra
The Hudson Motor Showroom is at 2222-2228 South Michigan Ave. Architect: Alfred Alschuler designed a richly decorated building with details like; H for Hudson medallions above the Palladian windows, the twisted columns, rope modelling around the windows and more.
The Marmon Co. Showroom at 2232 South Michigan Avenue was designed by architect: Alfred Alschuler and finished in 1922.
This Spanish-revival style building still has the company name Marmon on its terra cotta facade .. It has been renovated and converted in Marmon Grand banquet ..
Trivia: One car in the Marmon line, the Wasp, is the legendary winner of the first Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, in 1911
The Chicago Motor Club building 2400 S. Michigan Ave. Designed by Prairie School architect Philip Maher, opened in 1936.The Chicago Motor Club building was designed and completed within 265 days in 1928 and opened January of the next year. Having been granted National Register status in 1978, the building is widely regarded as one of Chicago's finest Art Deco style skyscrapers.
In 1954 it was sold to the Chicago Defender newspaper in 1954. They filled in the basemant pool, moved in printing presses and operated out of here for forty years. It has stood vacant since 2006 and is looking pretty rundown. It is on the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois Chicagoland Watch List
There is an extensive post about this building on the Forgotten Chicago site.
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Oldest House In Chicago
The Clarke House
The Clarke House was built by a local carpenter using readily available pattern books or builders' guides. Such publications provided floor plans for Greek Revival and other styles of houses, drawings of moldings, staircases, and additional details, as well as practical suggestions on the use of wood, stone, and other materials. With such guidance at hand, a skilled carpenter could produce a fashionable, well designed home. A.T. Andreas, in the first volume of his History of Chicago (1884) wrote that the Clarke House was built by John Campbell Rye, a carpenter. Nothing further is known of Rye, but he may have been the John C. Rue listed among carpenters working in Chicago in 1839 in the book: Industrial Chicago: Building Interests, published in 1891. The house the Clarkes built, however, is far from a stereotypical pattern book house.
I created this video at
The Wheeler Mansion Video : Chicago, Illinois, United States
The Wheeler Mansion Video : Chicago, Illinois, United States
Know Before You Go Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Alcohol is not permitted at this property. Fees The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
Airport shuttle fee: USD 75-120 per person (roundtrip) Pet fee: USD 35 per pet, per day The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
Check-in from 15:00 , check-out prior to 12:00
Parking, Business centre, Pets allowed, Laundry service, Concierge service.
Air conditioning, Hairdryer.
Hotel adress: 2020 South Calumet Avenue, Chicago, Chicago, United States
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Incredible South Loop Home for Sale on Historic Prairie Avenue
Incredible designer 5600Sf home by award winning John Robert Wiltgen on beautiful South Loop historic street across from serene park.This home is truly spectacular!High ceilings thruout,gourmet chefs kitch w/viking stove &subzero fridge,custom built ins,incredible wine cellar,elevator,spacious rms,spa-like mstr bath w/sep shower & tub,wonderful outdr space.Finished basmnt,garage.Avail furnished.As seen in Robb Report. Available for rent $12,900/month or for purchase $2,325,000. 1815 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Glessner House - Chicago's Historic Prairie Ave
The John J. Glessner House is a family house located at 1800 S. Prairie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. It was designed in 1885-1886 by architect Henry Hobson Richardson and built in 1886. The property was designated a Chicago Landmark on October 14, 1970. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 17, 1970 and as a National Historic Landmark on January 7, 1976.
John J. Glessner was a high-ranking executive with the International Harvester Company, leading U.S. manufacturer of farm machinery. Continued operation of the Homestead Act and settlement of the Great Plains in the 1870s and 1880s led to sharply increased demand for the products produced in the Harvester Company's Chicago factory.
During this period, Chicago's most prestigious residential street was the South Side's Prairie Avenue. Enjoying economic success, Glessner decided to build a home for his family on Prairie and 18th Streets. He chose one of the young nation's foremost architects, H.H. Richardson.
1717 S Prairie Avenue 905 | Chicago, IL
1717 S Prairie Avenue 905, Chicago, IL 60616
Bedrooms: 2 | Baths: 2
Luxury in the Prairie district at South Loop! This contemporary 3BD/2BA reveals a voluminous 1570SF layout with oversized windows that frame out expansive skyline views of the lake & Soldier Field. Everything is to perfection w/new appliances in the high end remodeled galley kitchen, sumptuous remodeled master bath with heated floors, fresh modern paint, new carpets, gorgeous crown molding, incredible custom closets, custom window treatments & built-in bar with wine fridge for effortless entertaining.
Chicago: Start of Route 66
U.S. Route 66 (US 66, Route 66) was a United States Numbered Highway in Illinois that connected St. Louis, Missouri, and Chicago.
When US 66—first known as the Main Street of America and later dubbed the Mother Road by novelist John Steinbeck in 1939—was designated on November 11, 1926, the original path used mostly pre-existing roads. That was intentional, to minimize any needed construction and to get the entire path of the route open to traffic as soon as possible. In fact, because Illinois had already paved most of the roads that would comprise US 66, Illinois was the first of the eight states through which the route ran to have its segment of US 66 completed at a time when much of Route 66 was still a gravel-and-dirt road.
From south to north, these include the Beaux Arts style Joliet Union Station by Jarvis Hunt; the historic Church of St. Anthony, the oldest public building still in use in Joliet; the endangered St. Mary Carmelite Church by Patrick Keely; the Joliet Public Library, designed by Daniel Burnham; the restored Rialto Square Theatre, one of the few surviving movie palaces of the more than 400 designed by Rapp & Rapp; the Georgian Revival Louis Joliet Hotel, transformed into apartments but still an unfinished renovation project; the Neoclassical Old Joliet Post Office; the Auditorium Building block by G. Julian Barnes, a classic Joliet limestone building; the Joliet Area Historical Museum, which occupies another Julian Barnes building, the former Ottawa Street Methodist Church; the Italianate style Joliet Chamber of Commerce Clubhouse, now the JJC Renaissance Center, and the old Joliet YMCA across the street, both designed by Burnham Brothers; two Art Deco structures, the Public Service Building on Ottawa and the KSKJ Building on Chicago Street further north; and the magnificent Bedford limestone St. Joseph Church, designed by Burnham protege William J. Brinkmann and the largest church in the city, whose twin spires could be seen for miles around when Route 66 was new.
The current End Historic Illinois U.S. Route 66 markers are located on Jackson (eastbound) and the Start Historic Illinois U.S. Route 66 markers are on Adams (westbound) at Michigan Avenue, in the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District, in recognition of the original eastern terminus of US 66 at Michigan and Jackson. The historic eastern terminus is marked by the southwest corner of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Fountain of the Great Lakes in the Art Institute's South Garden along Michigan Avenue; both the museum and the fountain were already there long before the route's inauguration at that intersection in November 1926 and remain there today.
Major intersections.
US 66 has come to stand for the collective, American tourist experience and holds a special place in American popular culture. There is a certain nostalgic appeal to Route 66 that is associated with the thrill of the open road that has contributed to its popularity. Looking at the historic roadway through Illinois from a different perspective, it reveals a unique history that tells the story of movement and road building across the prairie. Study of the highway in Illinois also reveals the evolution of the Interstate Highway System and the growing popularity of automobiles.
Aside from the six sections of the route in Illinois that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the entire stretch of US 66 through Illinois has been declared a National Scenic Byway and is alternatively known as the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. The 436-mile (702 km) stretch of road was declared the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway on September 22, 2005 by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The 8th Floor of Marshall Fields (Macy's) - Chicago IL
Filmed June 2017
In May 2017, Macy's announced that they would sell off the upper floors of the old Marshall Feilds state street store in Chicago. Every floor above 8 was already closed off but this closure comes with the loss of the architecturally significant 8th floor of the store.
Marshall Field's Christmas Memories
Marshall Fields and Christmas were practically synonymous. Generations of Chicagoans and out-of-towners made a pilgrimage to the legendary State Street department store to shop for gifts and enjoy Fields marvelous holiday ambiance and superb quality service. This video blends historical images and Christmas music from a bygone era with latter-day clips to recreate a whirlwind tour of the palatial building circa 1945-1955. Stroll down Candy Cane Lane, dine in the Walnut Room next to the Great Tree, and visit Santas Cozy Cloud Cottage.
Fields became Macys in 2006. Macys has continued some of the holiday traditions, but the magic and soul of the old store are now just memories.
Watch an updated HD remake of this video here:
A home in Chicago's Prairie District
Kim McNeece of Koenig & Strey walks us through a townhome in Chicago's historic Prairie District, an area that's seen an explosive growth in recent years.
Marshall Fields (Macys) : Chicago
A walk through Chicago's iconic Marshall Fields Department Store, now Macys at Christmas 2018
Time Lapse: 2-day Move of Harriet Rees House, Chicago
The Harriet F. Rees House (1888) is a historic residence in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Located on the once-affluent Prairie Avenue, the Rees house was built for the widow of a real estate developer. The house was threatened by a development project that will see a new basketball stadium for DePaul University and an entertainment district for nearby McCormick Place. In lieu of demolishing the building, the city decided to preserve it by moving it across the street and north one block.
The time lapse sequences document the move of this 750 ton house on November 11th and 12th, 2014. The elevated footage is from ~2000 frames taken at 20 second intervals. Other footage is from video taken at ground level, with some improvised motion control hardware (egg timers), that was sped-up 20x-40x.
Big thanks to Chad and Anna for letting my camera occupy their balcony for a while.
Preserving Chicago's Pullman neighborhood, Part 1
Join YoChicago as we tour the historic Pullman neighborhood with developer Saul Klibanow, president of Park Bank Initiatives, Inc., a nonprofit subsidiary of Park National Bank.
The organization is restoring four historic homes in Pullman, as part of a long-term plan to preserve the neighborhood's character while creating affordable housing options.
This is the first part of a 6-part tour.
A Drive Through Chicago South Loop Music & Motor Row Historic District
Video taken on South Michigan Ave heading South just past Cermak into Motor Row District. Lots of development planned for this street including a new CTA Green Line stop at Cermak which will include an entrance/exit on 23rd. Took the video to hopefully see the changes in the future.