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 Originally built as the
Palace of Fine Arts for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893,
this structure later became the first home of the Field Museum
of Natural History.
All of the structures of the exposition were made of a material
called staff, which was something like plaster of paris. When
it came to the Fine Arts Building the designers learned that
none of the world-class art which they wanted to put on display
would be sent to them unless they provided a fireproof building.
This building was constructed of brick covered with staff. It
is the only building to survive the fire which destroyed all
of the others. The architect was Charles Atwood.
The Museum of Science and Industry, formerly called The Rosenwald
Museum, was begun in 1930 after the structure stood empty for
ten years.
Address: 57th St. at Lake Shore Drive
Year Built: 1891-93; reconstructed 1920-30; interior renovation
1930-41
Architect: Charles B. Atwood; Graham, Anderson Probst
& White; Shaw, Naess & Murphy
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: November 1, 1995
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