The Salt Shed: Transforming an Iconic Chicago Space

The Salt Shed chronicles the compelling work of reimagining and transforming Chicago's impressive and iconic Morton Salt Warehouse while honoring its history and its working-class roots.

Originally constructed in 1929, the Morton Salt Shed and Warehouse Complex has been a familiar and beloved Chicago landmark along Elston Avenue between Division Street and North Avenue. For decades, the iconic hand-painted sign has captivated people traveling along busy Interstate I-90 and on Elston Avenue at ground level. As times changed, the building was no longer used for salt storage and processing, and eventually lay dormant. Recently, the building has been repurposed and transformed into a stunning music venue. 

The Salt Shed tells the story of the building’s reimagining and transformation. Photographer and writer Sandra Steinbrecher spent nearly two years documenting the deconstruction, reconstruction, and reinvigoration of this classic, industrial Chicago building. Through breathtaking photos and interviews with the people who made the restoration possible--including architects, developers and workers who did the daily labor–The Salt Shed takes the reader behind the scenes in one of Chicago’s most distinctive restoration projects of the 21st century.

Sandra Steinbrecher is a Chicago documentary photographer working on long-term assignments about education, the arts and community development. Her work supports and promotes those who are invested in transforming their communities and preserving history. Sandra was a silver gelatin master printer for over 20 years and along with colleague Ron Gordon, made the exhibition prints from original negatives from a collection of Vivian Maier’s acclaimed, historic images, seen around the world. Sandra’s work was featured in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition, The Outwin 2019, American Portraiture Today, a highly competitive national exhibition. Her photographs have been on view at several galleries, including the Chicago Cultural Center and were featured in the CNN docuseries, Chicagoland. Her images have been seen in several publications including on Patagonia’s blog The Cleanest Line, in the New York Times, New City, Smithsonian Magazine and The Economist.