Chicago, Illinois - 1916 Central Business Section
Chicago, Illinois - 1916 Central Business Section
Experience Chicago at the height of its skyscraper era with this stunning 1916 bird's-eye view of the central business district by cartographer Arno B. Reincke. Created 45 years after the Great Chicago Fire, this spectacular perspective captures the modern metropolis that rose from the ashes—a dense forest of early skyscrapers, bustling harbor, and thriving commercial center that established Chicago as America's architectural capital and second-largest city.
The Skyscraper City
This magnificent bird's-eye perspective reveals downtown Chicago transformed into a modern urban powerhouse. From an elevated vantage point looking across Lake Michigan, the map displays the dense concentration of tall buildings filling the central business district—the pioneering steel-frame skyscrapers that revolutionized urban architecture and gave Chicago its distinctive skyline. The grid pattern of streets extends inland from the lakefront, packed with commercial buildings, hotels, office towers, warehouses, and industrial facilities. Ships crowd the harbor, reflecting Chicago's continued dominance as a transportation and commodities hub. The vast scale of development spreading in every direction demonstrates the explosive growth from the wooden frontier city of 1868 to this modern metropolis of over 2.7 million residents. Every block shows the fireproof steel and stone construction mandated after 1871, while the density and height of buildings reveal Chicago's ambition and prosperity in the early 20th century.
Historical Significance
The 1916 Chicago captured in this bird's-eye view represents the triumphant culmination of the city's post-fire transformation. After the devastating 1871 fire destroyed the wooden city, Chicago rebuilt with revolutionary construction techniques that pioneered the skyscraper age. Architects like Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, and the Chicago School created steel-frame buildings that could rise to unprecedented heights, giving birth to the modern city skyline. By 1916, Chicago had become America's railroad capital, meatpacking center, financial hub, and architectural laboratory. The city hosted over 2.7 million residents and served as the industrial and commercial heart of the Midwest. This view preserves Chicago at a moment of confidence and maturity—a modern American metropolis that had overcome catastrophe through innovation, ambition, and architectural vision. The dense downtown captured here would continue evolving, but the foundation of fireproof construction and vertical growth established after 1871 had permanently transformed urban development.
Museum-Quality Reproduction
This is a high-quality reproduction of the original 1916 bird's-eye view, professionally printed using museum-grade methods and materials to preserve every detail of Arno B. Reincke's panoramic masterwork.
Perfect For:
- Chicago residents and anyone with ties to the Windy City
- Architecture enthusiasts and skyscraper historians
- Students of urban development and the Chicago School
- Collectors completing a Chicago transformation series (1868, 1871, 1892, 1916)
- Gift-giving for Chicago natives and history lovers
Specifications:
- Original Publication: c1916
- Title: Chicago, central business section
- Cartographer: Arno B. Reincke
- Style: Bird's-eye perspective view (north oriented to the right)
- Historical Context: Mature skyscraper city 45 years after Great Chicago Fire
- Features: Dense downtown skyscrapers, Lake Michigan harbor, commercial district, grid street pattern
- Product Type: High-Quality Reproduction Print
Dimensions (Width x Height): 28 x 18.8
Each map is printed using the finest materials and methods. Your map will be handled with white gloves from start to finish. We use the Giclee printing method on Hahnemuhle paper, which produces a clear, extremely detailed, durable map that is perfect to be proudly displayed in your home or office.
Digital watermark does not appear on your purchased map.
