When Chicago Had the Tallest Buildings in America [1869-1900]

Welcome back. We are going to dive into the Tallest Buildings in America before the year 1900. Looking into this research, I was instantly pointed to the city of Chicago. After a great fire in the year of 1871, Chicago was rapidly rebuilt as one of the largest cities in America. In fact, as of the year 1885, Chicago had the tallest building in the country, and this trend continued for the next few decades. Today we will focus on The Chicago Trade Board Building and Tower (1885), The Previous Trade Board House known as “The Wigwam (1860?)” being the same location where Abraham Lincoln received his presidential nomination. We will then check out the 1892 Masonic Temple of Chicago, the largest Masonic Building in America at that time, the largest structure in Chicago and quite possibly the tallest in America upon completion. By the year 1900 we have another building not often discussed in the current narrative, but said to reach over 390 feet tall, The Montgomery Ward Building and Tower. The Montgomery Ward Tower was topped by a massive pyramid, and statue. The statue was the relatively familiar figure of Diana, the same type of massive “Diana” statue which topped The Madison Square Garden, making MSG the tallest building in New York. Today we will connect some seldom discussed dots while focusing on the oldest known, and rarest old world photographs of these locations and more. I’d love to hear your thoughts and theories in the comment section down below.

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