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Monadnock Building

  • Looking up at building with blue sky
Join people who come from around the world to see the mighty Monadnock. This meticulously restored building demonstrates the evolution of architecture in the late 19th century.
  • Looking up at building with blue sky

Tour the world’s tallest commercial building with load-bearing masonry walls. Learn how the transition from masonry to steel frame skyscrapers transformed the workplace.

Duration
45 minutes
Site Type
Buildings
Location
Downtown
Architects and Styles
Meet

Inside Monadnock building, 53 W. Jackson Blvd.

The tour begins with Burnham and Root’s 1891 structure, built the old fashioned way --- brick on brick. It concludes with Holabird and Roche’s 1893 addition, supported largely by a metal frame, a technology that allowed buildings to grow tall.

Often called “the first modern building,” the Monadnock is a Chicago landmark and a national landmark. It also is just plain beautiful.

Tour reviews

    • If you are short on time and you want to know something about the development of the skyscraper, this is the building for you. In this one building you can see the transition from the age-old way of building to the new one that would transform cities forever. You can also see two different approaches to designing the facade of a tall building that continue today: one emphasizing structure, the other relying on ornamentation.
      Karen DimondCAC Docent
    • It was a cold midwinter day a few years ago when I had the pleasure of giving the tour with a group of about 8. Among them a young Asian architect in shirt sleeves coming directly from the airport on a lengthy plane change enroute to another warm locale. He explained it was important to see the Monadnock Building for its great fame as the last of an era and the beginning of modern architecture. He even accompanied us on the outdoor portion of the tour for as long as he could stand it. The 20- degree temp did shorten his visit. But he was clearly exhilarated by his brief visit to this icon of his profession.
      Laurel Kay EllweinCAC Docent
  • Side view of large brick building with many windows

    Photo by Peter J. Sieger

  • Group of tourists looking at a building

    Monadnock Exterior

  • Woman touching facade of building

    Monadnock Exterior

  • Exterior of brick building with yellow trim

    Monadnock Exterior

MORE ABOUT THIS BUILDING

Discover more about the Monadnock in CAC's Buildings of Chicago online library.

LEARN MORE
Skyscraper GallerySkyscraper Gallery

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