Great Northern Hotel was a historic hotel in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

's Loop area. It was located at the northeast corner of Jackson Boulevard and Dearborn Street in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

. The building was designed by

Burnham and Root Burnham and Root was one of Chicago's most famous architectural companies of the nineteenth century. It was established by Daniel Hudson Burnham and John Wellborn Root. During their eighteen years of partnership, Burnham and Root designed and b ...

. They created a new design, with an urban office block floor plan that was free of historical or European influences. The site is now occupied by the Dirksen Federal Building.

History

The Great Northern Hotel opened in 1892 with 16-story, 500 rooms, 8 dining rooms, and 6 elevators. The cost of the building was $1,150,000. The building was made with a steel structure and was one of the first fireproof hotels in Chicago. The hotel was constructed by the architecture firm of D. H. Burnham and Company. They created a new design, with an urban office block floor plan that was free of historical or European influences. When the building was constructed in 1892,

The Enquirer The ''National Enquirer'' is an American tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1926, the newspaper has undergone a number of changes over the years. The ''National Enquirer'' openly acknowledges that it pays sources for tips, a common practice in ta ...

was located in the hotel. The hotel was described as the "Chicago Hotel," but owner, Alvin Hulbert of ''Hulbert & Eden'' changed the name to the "Great Northern." The hotel was popular during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It was close to the World's Fair and Woolworth's Department Stores. GreatNorthernHotel1900

After

John Wellborn Root John Wellborn Root (January 10, 1850 – January 15, 1891) was an American architect who was based in Chicago with Daniel Burnham. He was one of the founders of the Chicago School style. Two of his buildings have been designated a National ...

's death in 1891,

Daniel Burnham Daniel Hudson Burnham (September 4, 1846 – June 1, 1912) was an American architect and urban designer. A proponent of the '' Beaux-Arts'' movement, he may have been, "the most successful power broker the American architectural profession has ...

built the Great Northern Office and Theatre Building at 20 W. Jackson Boulevard. The Northern hotel and 16-story office building were connected and formed a half block and shared the largest interior court in Chicago at that time. The theater had a seating capacity of 2,000. An Aeolian Pipe Organ at the Great Northern Hotel was built and installed in 1896. In 1910, the hotel had a new Cafe Grill and lunch room. In the 1930s, a remodel resulted in a reduction to 400 rooms with private bathrooms. The Great Northern hotel was demolished in 1940 and replaced with a one story taxpayer. The Great Northern Office and Theatre Building, as well as other buildings, were demolished in 1961 to make way for the Dirksen Federal Building, built in 1964.

References

External links

{{commons category, Great Northern Office and Theatre Building Demolished hotels in Chicago 1892 establishments in Illinois 1940 disestablishments in the United States Hotels established in 1892 Hotels disestablished in 1940