Streeterville in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
860-880 Lake Shore Drive Building
Erected: 1951
| | Architect: L. Mies van der Rohe | |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 25, 2025
1. 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Building Marker
In recognition of an open plan in a multi-story apartment building where the steel cage becomes expressive of the potentialities of steel and glass in architectural design.
Erected 1960 by Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks.
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 1951.
Location. 41° 53.95′ N, 87° 37.141′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Streeterville. It can be reached from the intersection of North Lake Shore Drive and Delaware Place, on the right when traveling south. The marker is inside the building's lobby and is visible from the outside through the glass windows. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 880 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60611, 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: 860-880 Lake Shore Drive (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Building (within shouting distance
this page online
More about this marker. An identical metallic historical marker like this one can be found inside the lobby of the other building, 860 N. Lake Shore Dr. Both are rare examples of the metallic markers issued by an early commission dedicated to honoring Chicago's historic buildings.
Between 1957 and 1964, the Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks designated approximately 37 buildings as "architectural landmarks," including these twin glass-and-steel high-rises overlooking Lake Michigan that had only been completed a decade earlier. According to contemporary newspaper articles, the landmark designation entitled each landmark building to a plaque, presumably these rectangular metallic markers. It is not known if every building received one of these
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 25, 2025
2. 880 Lake Shore Drive
The marker is in the lobby. 860 Lake Shore Drive is visible behind and a little left of the 880 building. Lake Shore Drive itself is on the left, and in the far background is the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier.
The original landmarks commission was not backed by city ordinance and proved ineffective at protecting landmarked structures; 10 of the buildings no longer stand today, most of them torn down by developers soon after their designation. In 1968, the city created a new landmark commission, today titled the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, with the backing of a city ordinance that enabled it greater authority to protect landmark buildings, historic sites and neighborhoods. That commission designated 860-880 Lake Shore Drive a Chicago Landmark in 1996, and a dark, square plaque, typical of the commission's style, can be found on a railing near the
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 25, 2025
3. 860 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Regarding 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Building. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as a landmark example by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe of the modern architectural style and his "less is more" ethos.
Works designed by the German-born Mies van der Rohe can still be found around Chicago, notably the Federal Center in the Loop, Crown Hall on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology and the IBM Building in River North. Mies van der Rohe is honored with a "Chicago Tribute" marker about two blocks southwest of here, near where he lived at 200 East Pearson Street, and a north-south street bears his name about two blocks away.
Also see . . .
1. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. A biography of van der Rohe by the Mies van der Rohe Society.
Excerpt: "Whether or not you agree with Mies assertation that less is more, his contribution to the modern urban landscape cannot be overlooked. Mies architecture has been described as being expressive of the industrial age in the same way that Gothic was expressive of the age of ecclesiasticism."(Submitted on February 26, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Chicago Architecture Center: 860-880 North Lake Shore Drive. (Submitted on February 26, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. 860-880 Lake Shore Drive official site
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 25, 2025
4. 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Building
880 is on the left, 860 on the right.
Additional commentary.
1. Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks
This marker is included as part of the series of rare markers issued by the Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks, which was a 1950s-60s-era precursor to the modern commission called the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.
— Submitted February 26, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection (Library of Congress), circa 1958
5. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 218 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 26, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on January 31, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A clear photo of the marker itself • Can you help?
