The Loop District in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Auditorium Building
Adler and Sullivan, architects
— 1889 —
Photographed By William J. Toman, August 26, 2010
1. Auditorium Building Marker
The extraordinary engineering talent of Dankmar Adler and the architectural genius of Louis Sullivan created this building to reflect the cultural maturity of Chicago. Combining hotel and office space with a splendid theater, the Auditorium was a turning point in Sullivan's career and a milestone in the development of modern architecture.
Erected by Commission on Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Landmarks. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1940.
Location. 41° 52.552′ N, 87° 37.475′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in The Loop District. Marker is at the intersection of South Michigan Avenue and East Congress Parkway, on the right when traveling south on South Michigan Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Leiter II Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Harold Washington (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blackstone Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); The DePaul Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); State Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Grant Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dearborn Street (approx. ¼ mile away); The Morton Building / Hotel Blake (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
Regarding Auditorium Building. Frank Lloyd Wright worked at Adler and Sullivan during the time that firm designed the Auditorium Building. According to David V. Mollenhoff, Madison: A History of the Formative Years (2nd ed.), p. 220, in 1888 Wright became a draftsman for the firm, where "he rose quickly because of his uncanny ability to visualize three-dimensional space, his facile drawing skill, and his remarkable creativity. Louis Sullivan became Wright's mentor, and the two men often talked late into the night at the firms downtown Chicago offices."
Also see . . .
1. Auditorium Building (Chicago). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 17, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Roosevelt University.
Photographed By William J. Toman, August 26, 2010
2. Auditorium Building Marker
The marker is on the inside of the corner support of the building, in the lower left.
3. Auditorium Theatre. Theatre website homepage (Submitted on August 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin.)
Additional keywords. Architecture
Photographed By William J. Toman, August 26, 2010
3. Auditorium Building
The South Michigan Avenue side of the building.
Photographed By William J. Toman, August 26, 2010
4. Auditorium Building
The South Wabash Avenue (left) and East Congress Parkway sides of the building. The theatre entrance is visible in the lower center.
Photographed By William J. Toman, August 26, 2010
5. Related Markers
These markers are just above the Auditorium Building marker.
Photographed By William J. Toman, August 26, 2010
6. Related Marker
Another marker on the South Wabash side of the building, which reads as follows:
Auditorium Building
Erected: 1889
Architects: Adler & Sullivan
The Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks by authority of the City Council of Chicago has designated this building as an architectural landmark.
In recognition of the community spirit which here joined commercial and artistic ends, uniting hotel, office building, and theatre in one structure; the inventiveness of the engineer displayed from foundations to the perfect acoustics; and the genius of the architect which gave form and, with the aid of original ornament, expressed the spirit of festivity in rooms of great splendor.
City of Chicago
Richard J. Daley, Mayor
February 11, 1960
Auditorium Building
Erected: 1889
Architects: Adler & Sullivan
The Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks by authority of the City Council of Chicago has designated this building as an architectural landmark.
In recognition of the community spirit which here joined commercial and artistic ends, uniting hotel, office building, and theatre in one structure; the inventiveness of the engineer displayed from foundations to the perfect acoustics; and the genius of the architect which gave form and, with the aid of original ornament, expressed the spirit of festivity in rooms of great splendor.
City of Chicago
Richard J. Daley, Mayor
February 11, 1960
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,485 times since then and 159 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
