24 Sep rare 1960 skidmore, owings, and merrill-designed stainless steel chicago architectural landmarks building plaque for william le baron jenney’s leiter building joins bldg. 51 museum collection
September 24, 2024
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a rare and historically important skidmore, owings, and merrill-designed stainless steel chicago architectural landmarks building plaque fabricated for william le baron jenney’s non-extant leiter building joined the bldg. 51 museum collection late last week. there are now over 20 landmark plaques from buildings across the united states housed in the bldg. 51 musuem collection.
in 1937, the 100th anniversary of chicago’s founding renewed public interest in historic sites. a charter jubilee committee marked 73 locations with plaques that “identify and fix for posterity … the sites where stirring historical events took place,” such as the first school, post office, rail depot, and inns, even if the buildings no longer survived. the plaques also commemorated locations of historic events, like the site of the origin of the great chicago fire and the fort dearborn tragedy.
seldom seen 19th century james w. taylor albumen of william le baron’s leiter one building (1879).
the 7-story skeleton-frame building (supported by cast iron columns) is recognized for its contribution towards the development of skeleton construction, which was further refined in jenney’s home insurance building (1885-1931). leiter one was demolished in 1973.
john vinci kodachrome slides of william le baron jenney’s leiter one building (1879) shortly before its demolition in 1973. the 7-story skeleton-frame building (supported by cast iron columns) is recognized for its contribution towards the development of skeleton construction, which was further refined in jenney’s home insurance building (1885-1931).