Skyscraper city beginnings, a days outing in the Windy city

June 09, 2013

Skyscraper city beginnings, a days outing in the Windy city

Well, let's back up a few days and get back to Chicago. While visiting my cousin Pat, she and I took a day trip into downtown Chicago. There is always something fun on the agenda when I visit Pat, and this time we take an architectual tour of Chicago. We take the Metrarail line into the city, then take a water taxi around to Michigan Avenue, and stroll the magnificent mile admiring the beautiful flowers all along the boulevard. We grab a bite to eat, walk past 122 south Michigan Avenue - the building where I worked for a year and a half way back in 1978-79. The architectual tour focuses on Daniel Burnham, the architect that along with his early partner, Root, designed the first skyscrapers (all of 10 - 20 floors), but a major achievement in it's time. Burnham went on to become the chief architect for the "White City" world's fair in the late 1800's in Chicago - that was featured in the fascinating book "The Devil and the White City" Having read the book, made the tour that much more interesting. We had a very good docent, and a really enjoyable 2 - hour tour. Afterwards, we strolled through Millenium Park before heading back to the station and our train ride back to Warrenville. Chicago has a beautiful downtown, spectacular waterfront, and skyline.