Page 87 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

SOUTH L OOP AND NEAR SOUTH SIDE  85

3 Dearborn Station
47 W Polk St. Map 3 C3. Tel 554-4408.
q Harrison. Open 7am–9pm Mon–
Fri; 8am–5pm Sat. Closed major
public hols. 0 -
Dearborn Station, built in
1885, is the oldest surviving
passenger railroad station
building in Chicago, and
is a monument to the historic
importance of the nation’s
coast-to-coast rail system.
By the turn of the century,
more than 100 trains
(from 25 different railroad South Michigan Avenue, looking north
companies) and 17,000 4 South Michigan
passengers passed through 5 Hilton Chicago
the station each day. Avenue 720 S Michigan Ave. Map 4 D3.
Designed by Cyrus L.W. S Michigan Ave. from E Madison Tel (312) 922-4400. q Harrison.
Eidlitz, the station features St. to E Balbo Ave. Map 4 C2–C3. Open 24 hrs daily. 7 0 h See
masonry walls and terra-cotta q Madison. Where to Stay: p144.
arches in the Richardsonian
Romanesque style (see p28). South Michigan Avenue is When it opened in 1927,
A 1922 fire destroyed the roof, the place to revel in the this 25-story hotel had 3,000
attic, and upper story. The clock monumental solidity of late rooms, a rooftop 18-hole
tower was rebuilt and stands 19th- and early 20th-century miniature golf course, its own
today as the striking terminus architecture. This historic hospital, and a 1,200-seat
of Dearborn Street, visible from street has been described theater. After the owner went
the northern Loop. variously as a “cliff” and a “wall.” bankrupt in the mid-1930s,
The station closed its Be warned: you may strain the World War II Army Air
passenger service in 1971. your neck gazing up to the Corps purchased the Holabird
After a period of neglect, in tops of these massive and Roche-designed redbrick
1986, amid much controversy, structures. The longest span building, converting the
the building’s train shed was of pre-1920 buildings in grand ballroom to a
demolished. The building was Chicago, South Michigan mess hall.
subsequently converted into a Avenue contains numerous In 1945, Conrad Hilton
dynamic shopping mall and architectural styles, from acquired the building,
office complex, which helped the Gothic-inspired (see p28) reopening the hotel in 1951.
to revitalize the area. Today, Chicago Athletic Association Further renovations from 2000
many of its original features Building (No. 12) to the to 2004 secured the hotel’s
have since been restored. Chicago School (see pp28–9) reputation for opulence. Its
Gage Building (No. 18), one lofty centerpiece is the
of three buildings making up ballroom, a space decorated
the Gage Group. The Gage in the French Renaissance style,
Building was designed by featuring mirrored doors and
Holabird and Roche; Louis walls, arched windows, and
Sullivan designed the terra- huge crystal chandeliers. The
cotta facade. hallway is equally ornate, with
At Nos. 24 and 30 are striking fluted columns, a marble
examples of Chicago windows stairway, and a cloud mural
(see p29), which allowed in plenty painted on the ceiling.
of light and air for the milliners,
who once worked here.
The School of the Art
Institute of Chicago residence
(No. 112) contains a frieze
of the Greek god Zeus
overseeing athletic games,
a decorative detail that
reflects the original 1908
purpose of the building as
The former Dearborn Station’s the home of the Illinois Marble fountain, lobby of
high-ceilinged atrium Athletic Club. the Hilton Chicago

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