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

Reid, Murdoch & Company Building

George C. Nimmons, architect; 1914

— Chicago Landmark —

Reid, Murdoch & Company Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, January 31, 2024

1. Reid, Murdoch & Company Building Marker

Inscription. Combining elements of both the Chicago and Prairie schools of architecture, this is a particularly fine example of industrial design. The outside walls clearly express the supporting frame. The building is enhanced by the superb proportions of the brick and the excellent detailing of the terra-cotta trim.

Designated a Chicago Landmark on November 15, 1976 by the City Council of Chicago.
Richard J. Daley, Mayor

Erected by Commission on Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks; City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 41° 53.283′ N, 87° 37.937′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in River North. It is on North LaSalle Street south of Kinzie Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is near the building's western entrance on LaSalle Drive. It is partially obscured by a planter. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 325 North LaSalle Street, Chicago IL 60654, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 25,000th Convenience Store (within shouting distance of this marker); The Eastland Disaster

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(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); “Hubbard’s Folly” (about 400 feet away); The Christmas Tree Ship (about 500 feet away); Loop da Loop, 2018 (about 500 feet away); James C. "Jim" Tyree (about 500 feet away); The Reversal of the Chicago River (about 700 feet away); Chicago's First Movable Bridge (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding Reid, Murdoch & Company Building. Reid, Murdoch and Company was a prominent wholesale grocer and leading manufacturer of canned goods. While the company stopped selling its goods in the 1960s, its 400,000-square-foot namesake building still stands along the Chicago River.

The date of the designation—November 15, 1976—was exactly 35 days before Mayor Richard J. Daley died of a massive heart attack at age 74.

Also see . . .
1. Made in Chicago: Reid, Murdoch and Co., est. 1853.

Excerpt: "From humble pre-Civil War roots on the Western frontier, the business evolved into a leading manufacturer and importer of canned food products, with more
Photographed by Sean Flynn, January 31, 2024

2. Reid, Murdoch & Company Building Marker
The marker is to the left of the LaSalle Drive entrance.
than 250 different offerings available under its popular Monarch label by the 1920s—including jams, jellies, pickles, coffees, teas, and the colorful cocoa tin in our museum collection. These products were sold exclusively to independent merchants rather than chain stores, making Reid-Murdoch one of the last great champions of the mom & pop shop—despite existing as a coast-to-coast corporation in its own right."

(Submitted on January 31, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Chicago Uncovered: Reid Murdoch Building. Chicago's WLS-7 (ABC) takes a tour of the Reid, Murdoch and Company Building. (Submitted on January 31, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Reid, Murdoch & Company Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, January 31, 2024

3. Reid, Murdoch & Company Building

A view of the building from the LaSalle Street Bridge; the Chicago River runs in front of the building.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, February 14, 2024

4. Reid, Murdoch & Company Building

A view of the building from the northeast, 26 stories up; the Chicago River and the Wells Street Bridge can be seen in the background.

Eastland Disaster image. Click for full size.

Russell L. Lewis Collection, Newberry Library, July 1915

5. Eastland Disaster

The Reid, Murdoch and Company building was the backdrop for the Eastland Disaster, one of the worst maritime disasters in American history. The SS Eastland capsized on July 24, 1915, killing 844 people—greater than the number of people who died 44 years earlier in the Great Chicago Fire. In this photo, the Reid, Murdoch and Company building is in the back and to the left, behind the sideways Eastland. Many dead and wounded were carried to the building, which was only a year old at the time.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,023 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 31, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on February 14, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on January 31, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.