Rand McNally Building

Rand McNally Building (center, #4) as seen in a Rand McNally "bird's eye" illustration, 1890s

The Rand McNally Building (1889-1911), in Chicago, was designed by Burnham and Root and was the world's first all-steel framed skyscraper.

The building was located at 160-174 Adams Street (on the south side between LaSalle and Wells) and also fronted #105-#119 on the backside (Quincy Street). It was erected in 1889 at a cost of $1 million. It had 10 stories, 16 stores, and 300 offices, but the main tenant was Rand, McNally & Co., printers and publishers, with 900 employees. The general offices of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway were located here on the 2nd and 3rd floors,[1] as were the headquarters of the World's Columbian Exposition, on the 4th and 5th.[2] The Long Distance Telephone Company (Quincy Street side) allowed patrons the ability to telephone New York City, a novelty at the time.[3]

It was demolished in 1911 and a larger building of that era still stands on the site. For many years, it housed the headquarters of the City National Bank & Trust Company.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rail World" 34. August 2, 1890: 730.
  2. ↑ Official manual of the World's Columbian Commission. Rand McNally. 1890. p. 162.
  3. ↑ "Vicinity of the Board of Trade". Rand McNally guides. 1890.

Coordinates: 41°52′45″N 87°37′59″W / 41.8792°N 87.6330°W / 41.8792; -87.6330

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