River North in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Courthouse Plaza

— Chicago Landmark —

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 28, 2021

1. Courthouse Plaza Marker

Inscription.
Courthouse Place
Otto H. Matz, architect
1892-93

This Romanesque-style building, which housed the Cook County Criminal Courts for 35 years, was the site of many legendary trials, including the Leopold and Loeb murder case and Black Sox Scandal. Newspapermen Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur based much of their 1928 play, "The Front Page," on the daily events in this structure. A public market hall once stood on the site.

Designated on June 9, 1993
Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Erected by Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 9, 1993.

Location. 41° 53.409′ N, 87° 37.806′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in River North. Marker is at the intersection of West Hubbard Street and North Dearborn Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Hubbard Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 54 West Hubbard Street, Chicago IL 60654, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Chicago Varnish Company Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse

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(about 800 feet away); 25,000th Convenience Store (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chicago's First Movable Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Marina City (approx. 0.2 miles away); IBM Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Trail Blazer (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . . Chicago Criminal Courts Building, 54 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL (HABS). Historic American Buidings survey record for this building, with 3 photos and a couple of pages of information on the building. (Submitted on December 25, 2021.)

Courthouse Plaza Marker - entrance view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 28, 2021

2. Courthouse Plaza Marker - entrance view

The marker is visible here just to the right of the building entrance, albeit tilted at an angle that makes it difficult to see.

Courthouse Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 28, 2021

3. Courthouse Plaza

Courthouse Plaza, formerly known as the Cook County Criminal Courts Building image. Click for full size.

Harold Allen (Historic American Buidings Survey, Library of Congress), May 24, 1965

4. Courthouse Plaza, formerly known as the Cook County Criminal Courts Building

Significance: This building of 1892 is one of the last works of a lesser-known, early Chicago architect, Otto H. Matz. Its blocklike form and heavily rusticated exterior recall something of the Richardsonian tradition of the early 1880's. - HABS

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 356 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 25, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.