1892 The Heart of Chicago, from the Mason Building
DESCRIPTION
This finely executed illustration of the central part of the city of Chicago was drawn by Charles Graham for Harpers Weekly. The view is from atop what was the tallest building in the city at that time, the Masonic Building. This image was prepared for the Chicago World’s Columbian Exhibition. The print looks south over the heart of the downtown area, with the buildings of the World Fair silhouetted on the southern horizon near shores of Lake Michigan. The bird’s eye view done was done by Charles Graham for Harpers Weekly, in exacting architectural detail, providing a progressive feel for the town.
A description of the Masonic Building written at approximately the same time (1894) was published in the journal ‘Scientific American’, a paragraph of which is quoted below. Further description of the building is included to convey the importance of the location from which the view was taken.
“The World’s Columbian Exhibition may justly be said to have commemorated the quadricentennial of America, not only by the exhibition of the arts and industries of the globe, as brought together in the White City by the Lakes, not only by the lovely architecture and land- and water-scape there created, but by the city of Chicago proper, the worthy exponent of American progress and growth, the typical American metropolis. Of all the buildings of our Western sister Chicago, none is more remarkable than the Masonic Temple, a structure which, in its functions, dimensions and construction, is one of the unique buildings of the world. In spite of its name, it is proudly claimed to be the “highest commercial building in the world.” In it we find exemplified the union of Freemasonry and commerce, a four and one-half million dollar building supplying beautiful halls and parlors for Masonic rites, as well as an unequaled collection of business offices.”
Sadly, this iconic building did not escape the wrecker’s ball, and was demolished in 1939, having stood for only 37 years.
CONDITION
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622