1880s - 1890s
Before Chicago had the large Board of Trade building it's known for, there was once a much smaller structure that served the city. Designed by William W. Boyington who is best known today for his work on the Chicago Water Tower, the building finished its construction in 1885. This was the first commercial building in Chicago to have electricity and clearly set a trend for future construction. Unfortunately, in 1929 it was deemed structurally unsound and was demolished. It has since been replaced by the current Board of Trade building the following year.
The Palmer House has actually been built three times. After the first structure burned down in the Great Chicago Fire – as many of the buildings did in 1871 – Potter Palmer immedietly set to work on its reconstruction. Architect designer John M. Van Osdel created a luxurious, seven story hotel fit for the new cityscape. The hotel brought in people such as Ulysses S. Grant and Oscar Wilde, and remains one of the premier hotels in Chicago today.