Manhattan Building, Chicago
Following the devastating Great Fire of 1871 that laid waste to downtown Chicago, ambitious architects swarmed the city, capitalizing on a unique opportunity: a multitude of eager clients demanding fresh designs, and a near absence of architectural constraints hindering daring experimentation. Even as the debris was being cleared, William Le Baron Jenney was at the forefront of shaping what would become the Chicago School of architecture.
As the senior figure among this group, Jenney made a seminal contribution to the style and the future of skyscrapers. He achieved this by pioneering the use of an internal steel frame, rather than thick external walls, as the primary support structure for a building's weight. Regrettably, his 1885 Home Insurance Building, often considered the world's first skyscraper, no longer stands. However, his 1891 Manhattan Building remains a compelling testament to his sturdy and practical architectural achievements.
Dubbed "Hercules" by awestruck visitors to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the Manhattan Building was a trailblazer in numerous aspects. It was the inaugural tall building to employ skeleton construction throughout, the first sixteen-story structure in the United States, briefly the tallest building worldwide, and the pioneer in incorporating a structurally advanced wind-bracing system. Its distinctive bay windows allowed natural light to penetrate interior spaces, and the combination of a granite facade for the lower floors and brick facade for the upper stories helped alleviate the strain on the internal steel framework. Moreover, the north and south bays were cantilevered to prevent overburdening the foundations of neighboring buildings.
As the senior figure among this group, Jenney made a seminal contribution to the style and the future of skyscrapers. He achieved this by pioneering the use of an internal steel frame, rather than thick external walls, as the primary support structure for a building's weight. Regrettably, his 1885 Home Insurance Building, often considered the world's first skyscraper, no longer stands. However, his 1891 Manhattan Building remains a compelling testament to his sturdy and practical architectural achievements.
Dubbed "Hercules" by awestruck visitors to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the Manhattan Building was a trailblazer in numerous aspects. It was the inaugural tall building to employ skeleton construction throughout, the first sixteen-story structure in the United States, briefly the tallest building worldwide, and the pioneer in incorporating a structurally advanced wind-bracing system. Its distinctive bay windows allowed natural light to penetrate interior spaces, and the combination of a granite facade for the lower floors and brick facade for the upper stories helped alleviate the strain on the internal steel framework. Moreover, the north and south bays were cantilevered to prevent overburdening the foundations of neighboring buildings.
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Manhattan Building on Map
Sight Name: Manhattan Building
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois
Create Your Own Walk in Chicago
Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
The Magnificent Mile Walking Tour
The stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lake Shore Drive, otherwise known as the Magnificent Mile, is regarded as one of the world鈥檚 great avenues 鈥� or Chicago鈥檚 version of Fifth Avenue. Take this self-guided walk to explore its whole stretch and surrounding area, featuring a wide selection of amazing stores/malls, world-known museums, restaurants and spectacular... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Chicago Introduction Walking Tour
Chicago, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois, is a city steeped in history and urban vibrancy. Known by numerous nicknames such as the Windy City and the City of Big Shoulders, it boasts a skyline marked by towering structures. The area of today's Chicago, initially inhabited by Native American tribes, saw its first European-settled reference as "Chicagou" in 1679, a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Chicago Navy Pier Walking Tour
Additional to scenic views of the lake, the boats, and the city skyline, the Navy Pier offers a variety of attractions on the waterfront 鈥� for kids as well as adults 鈥� that draw nearly ten million people annually, making this Chicago's most visited spot. Yes, some may see it as a 鈥渢ourist trap鈥�, but it is worth the time and money to spend some time here, so take this self-guided walk... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Loop District Architecture Walking Tour
Chicago features an outstanding architectural legacy, having long been connected with some of architecture's most important names: Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, Holabird & Root, and others. The multi-layered Loop District, in particular, offers an extensive number of Chicago鈥檚 famous architectural 鈥渕ust-sees鈥� 鈥� from modern skyscrapers to historic buildings... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Chicago Old Town Walking Tour
Settled in 1850 by German immigrants, Chicago鈥檚 Old Town neighborhood is a popular destination for locals and visitors who cater to the entertainment venues, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and boutiques 鈥� all of which have turned an area once referred to as the 鈥淐abbage Patch鈥� into an attraction that rivals Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Magnificent Mile.
Start your Old Town walking... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Start your Old Town walking... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture Tour in Oak Park
Oak Park, located in Cook County, Illinois, just outside Chicago, made history in 1889 when Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America's most renowned architects, and his wife settled there, leaving a profound impact on the area's appearance. This village boasts the highest concentration of Wright-crafted buildings in the world - over a dozen! - making it a pivotal destination for enthusiasts to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Chicago Souvenirs: 15 Distinct Local Products to Bring Home
One of the most fascinating cities in the U.S., if not the whole world, Chicago has no shortage of things closely associated with it, often due to their direct origin (blues, gangstership, etc.), so one might literally be spoiled for choice as to what to choose as a "piece" of Chicago to...