Chicago: In and Around the Loop - Walking Tours of Architecture and History

Following the unique and successful formula combining architectural information and walking tours shown in his book on New York, noted McGraw-Hill author Gerard Wolfe offers travelers and armchair travelers the same enlightenment and pleasure for Chicago. The tours are organized around architecturally significant downtown areas in and around the famous Loop, a convenient starting point. An informative introduction puts building and neighborhood in context, describing the effects fo the Great Fire of 1871 and the Columbian Exhibition of 1893, among other events.

Explore the city that is the cradle of the American skyscraper and still leads the world in modern building design! The fascinating architecture of Chicago unfurls before your eyes in this acclaimed walking tour guide to the "City of Big Shoulders," birthplace of the skyscraper. Full of little-known facts intriguing to natives and tourists alike, Chicago: In and Around the Loop guides you through Chicago's world-famous landmark buildings; walks you through the Loop and along and "Magnificent Mile," the "Gold Coast," Printers' Row, Grant Park, and Prairie Avenue; and shows you the most stunning views of Chicago's glorious and historic skyline.
Along the way, you'll meet architects like Dankmar Adler, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and many others who revamped the American skyline and aesthetic. What an adventure lies before you as you relive the exciting growth, development, and modernization of the dynamic "Windy City" (and find out why it's called that--it's not what you think! Readers and walkers will enjoy: unique tours that include the riverfront from the Sears Tower to Lake Michigan; the River North district, center of Chicago's nightlife; and historical walks through vintage Chicago of both before and after the Great Fire of 1871; fascinating facts and details about major landmarks in the heart of Chicago; easy-to-follow maps of all walking tours; 275 contemporary and vintage photographs of major sites and attractions.
Recommended by the Chicago Architecture Foundation for its completeness and lively style. Chicago: In and Around the Loop is your ideal companion as you explore the city's rich architectural heritage and the exciting Chicago of today. This guide also serves as an ideal reference for architects, architectural historians, and students.