Chicago is one of the great architectural Meccas of the modern urban world. The names of its architects-Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, William Jenney, Daniel Burnham, Mies van Der Rohe, C.F. Murphy, Y.C. Wong, to mention just a few-are internationally famous. Their revolutionary concepts of design and construction continue to produce a host of "first"-the skyscraper, the iron skeleton, the floating foundation, the Prairie House, the "Chicago window", the glass wall, the urban atrium house. Yet up to now no one has prepared a walking guide to the city's architectural wonders. Now, Ira Bach, architect, city planner, and ardent Walker, has developed 36 tours which provide rich and detailed walks past Chicago's most outstanding buildings and through its most famous neighborhoods-Michigan Avenue, State Street, LaSalle Street, Wacker Drive, the "Gold Coast", Hyde Park, and many others.
The book begins with a map of the city, showing the location of each walk. Individual maps of the walks, public transportation information to guide the walker the starting point, the walking time, and an index of the building and architects make this book an easy to follow and useful guide. Lavishly illustrated with handsome photographs, the text includes useful tips on points of interest, where to take pictures, and the visiting hours for various museums and public buildings.