The Loop District in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Leiter II Building

William Le Baron Jenney, architect (1889-91)

— Chicago Landmark —

Leiter II Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn

1. Leiter II Building Marker

Inscription. Acclaimed as one of the most important, early examples of skeletal-frame commercial architecture, this National Historic Landmark was designed by the so-called "father of the skyscaper." It was built by Levi Leiter, a former partner of Marshall Field, and is the city's oldest surviving department store structure. For many years, It was the flagship store of Sears, Roebuck & Co. (The first Leiter building, at Monroe and Wells, was demolished in 1972.)

Designated on January 14, 1997
Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Erected 1997 by Commission on Chicago Landmarks; City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 41° 52.59′ N, 87° 37.648′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in The Loop District. Marker is on South State Street north of Ida B. Wells Drive. The marker is next to the Second Leiter building's central State Street entrance, across the street from Harold Washington Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 South State Street, Chicago IL 60605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

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marker. Harold Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); State Street (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Colony Building (about 400 feet away); Auditorium Building (about 500 feet away); Fisher Building (about 500 feet away); Dearborn Street (about 600 feet away); The DePaul Center (about 600 feet away); Steger Building (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding Leiter II Building. Sears, Roebuck & Co. occupied this building until 1983, after which it was converted to office space. The most recent tenant was Robert Morris University, which vacated the space in 2020 after the school was sold to Roosevelt University. The building was foreclosed upon in 2020, as it struggled to find a new occupant in the face of the COVID-19 slowdown in commercial real estate in Chicago. In 2023 the building was acquired in an auction by one of the previous owner's servicers for about 30% of the previous purchase price.

The First Leiter Building, referenced on this marker, was about a half-mile walk northwest of here; it is today the site of a parking garage.

Also see . . .
1. SAH Archipedia: Leiter II Building.

The Society of Architectural Historians:
Photographed By Sean Flynn, November 4, 2023

2. Leiter II Building Marker
"This eight-story department store structure is one of the most important early examples of skeletal-frame commercial architecture—grand in its proportions yet simple in its design. Designed by the 'father' of the American skyscraper, it is the city’s oldest-surviving department store building."

(Submitted on November 5, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Chicagology: Leiter Building II. A look at the history of the Second Leiter Building. (Submitted on November 5, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Leiter II Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, November 4, 2023

3. Leiter II Building and Marker

Historic photo of the Second Leiter Building image. Click for full size.

4. Historic photo of the Second Leiter Building

View from the southwest, across Congress Parkway (now Ida B. Wells Drive)

Second Leiter Building interior image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)

5. Second Leiter Building interior

Historic photo of the building's interior

First Leiter Building, circa 1963 image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress), circa July 1963

6. First Leiter Building, circa 1963

The First Leiter Building, about half a mile from the second one, was built in 1879 and torn down in 1972; today it is the site of a parking garage. The western side of the "L" train loop (the source of the downtown neighborhood name) is in the foreground.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 5, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.