Sunday, May 22, 2011

Artifacts on the Chicago Tribune Tower's Walls


On my recent trip to Chicago I passed the Chicago Tribune newspaper building called the Tribune Tower many times, as I walked from one place to another, and each time I had to stop to admire this beautiful building.  Located at 435 N. Michigan Ave, the Tribune Tower is the headquarters of Tribune Company, founded in 1847. The Tower building was erected in 1925. The Tower design was the result of an international competition for "the most beautiful office building in the world," held in 1922 by the Chicago Tribune newspaper. (All photos in this post will enlarge is double clicked on)


The winning design, out of 286 submissions from around the world, was that of a 36 story Gothic skyscraper, awarded to New York City architects John Mead Howells and Raymond M. Hood.

The detailed stone screen above the entrance depicts characters from Aesop's Fables..


Prior to the building of the Tribune Tower, correspondents for the Chicago Tribune brought back rocks and bricks from a variety of historically important sites throughout the world at the request of Colonel McCormick who was the head of the newspaper at the time. Many of these reliefs have been incorporated into the lowest levels of the building and are labeled with their location of origin.

I was fascinated to see how many artifacts and bricks and stone that there were all around the exterior walls, above door ways and windows and under exterior lighting fixtures.
I tried to find and photograph as many as I could.

I felt like I was on an archaeological treasure hunt!


The stones and artifacts are from all  around the world. It includes fragments of Abraham Lincoln's original tomb, India's Taj Mahal, China's Forbidden City, the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt and the Great Wall of China. Others, like the Berlin Wall are of recent history.
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Every state in the USA is represented at least one bit of natural or man-made wonder.


I am displaying just some of the over 150 artifacts from around the country and the world in these photos mosaics. Make sure you double click on them to enlarge them for easier viewing and use your browsers back arrow each time to come back to the post.


Try as I might, I know I must have missed photographing a few of the artifacts, but it will be fun to, hopefully, go back some day and see if I can find more.

As a New Yorker, this artifact was the most significant and touching of all -- a twisted piece of metal that came from the destruction of one of the World Trade Center Towers. I said a prayer for all lost on that terrible day.

If you visit Chicago it is definitely worthwhile visiting the Chicago Tribune Tower and seeing a bit of history!

I'm linking this post to Mary's "Mosaic Monday" event on her blog Little Red House. Please visit Mary's blog to see her beautiful mosaic and links  to all the blogs participating today!

 

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50 comments:

Barbara F. said...

I've known of this building but not that there were so many artifacts from all over the world and from different times. As always, Pat, you capture and share the most interesting things. Thanks for bringing all the best parts of your jouneys home so we can "see" them, too. xo,

C.M. Jackson said...

wonderful review of the Tribune Building--just returned myself and always have such a wonderful visit each tome I am there--thanks for reminding me about this building--I will have to re-visit again--best c

Jojo said...

That is amazing! I had no idea about the various artifacts. I've only been to Chicago once and it was such a quck trip so there were no tours or sights. Maybe next time.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

What a wonderful building - I had no idea it had all this amazing detail! Thank you.

Old Kitty said...

I love how pieces of historically significant architecture from around the world and around the US have formed part of this amazing building's structure!! How madly creative is that?!?!?! I love it!!!

Thank you Patsy for your fabulous shots - how you got these clear pics is fabulous!! I am in AWE!! thanks for sharing!! take care
x

Sandy said...

I worked across the street from the Chicago Tribune in The Equitable building for several years in the late 80s and early 90s and never knew any of this about the Tribune building. You educate me even about a city I worked in for years! You are amazing Pat!

Snap said...

I love the Chicago Tribune Tower. Amazing isn't it?!!! I do love Chicago. What are you showing next in the windy city?!!!!!

Grace said...

Ok you taught me something new yet again! Such amazing artifacts. I need to take a mosaic class with you. lol Everytime I try I get too many pictures in and can not get rid of some. I love visiting your blog. HUgs Grace OOOOOO

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, I have seen many pictures of the Chicago Tribune Tower before---but never knew about all of the artifacts and designs on the building itself. That is truly awesome.

I'm so glad you got pictures... I enjoyed seeing them --including the 9/11 one.
Hugs,
Betsy

pam said...

Wow...we have missed seeing this when we've been in Chicago. That is amazing.

Vee said...

Now that is just amazing. I've never heard of this before and I know I've heard of the Chicago Tribune Building. What a great use of mosaics with this one, Pat. As always, thank you for the fascinating stories you tell us and show us!

H said...

What an unusual and fascinating building. I would have loved hunting out all of the artefacts too.

La said...

Hi Pat!

What an unusual building. I had never heard about this before your post.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Tanna said...

Thank you so much for the lesson on the Tribune building! Wow! It is an extraordinary example of architecture. Historic buildings always catch my heart... I love 'em!

The Trade Center artifact was very moving.

blessings ~ tanna

Beth Leintz said...

Wow- I've walked by the Tribune building many times over the years, but I had no idea it was a treasure of architecture from around the world. Thanks for another educational and informative post.

Carol said...

What an amazing building, the artifacts are so interesting, so many different places. The Word Trade is especially touching. Thanks, pat, great post, I always learn something new when I visit.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

This post is fascinating! I have never heard of this building and now I really want to see this! Thank you so much for this.

podso said...

I grew up reading the Tribune but seeing and reading all this is really interesting. You could be a tour guide. Your photos are wonderful. Have a good week,

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

How interesting! I have never read about this. Thanks for the beautiful photos!!!

Mary said...

Omigosh Pat, this is marvelous!!! What a beautiful old building and a fascinating collection!
xoxo

Buttercup said...

Great, great pictures. I've been to Chicago, but know I haven't done justice to this building. Hoping to be there in the fall and will try to spend time here. Hope your week is a good one.

Michelle said...

Your photos really do the objects justice. Great post. I love coming here and learning!

ellen b. said...

I love this Pat. It is so very cool that they have so many artifacts from around the world. Thanks for taking the time to snap away and record them. :0)

GailO said...

Wonderful! I never knew about this building before and I find it facinating! Thanks...and it must have been such fun finding all the artifacts.....

WhiteStone said...

Fascinating! After reading this I hope to see this building someday.

Jacqueline said...

What a fabulous post, I love that detailed screen above the doors. How exquisite and what craftsmanship. How wonderful the little artifacts and I agree, the twisted steel from the Twin Towers is so touching. I haven't been to Chicago since I was growing up! What a great place to put on the list to go and see.

Pondside said...

That building is unique! Imagine, today, asking for bids on designing a beautiful building - I haven't seen a new building that I would call beautiful for a very long time. Once again, thank you for taking me with you.

eileeninmd said...

Wow, what a cool building. the artifacts are really interesting. And I think it is wonderful that they used some from all the states. Great post and photos.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

WOW! How cool is that? I swear that sometimes I think you're living the life I would be living if I wasn't physically restricted.

This morning I lived vicariously through this post. Thanks!!!!!

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

What a beautiful building. Nowadays the buildings are all glass and the detail of the carvings on that building are not done. I loved the stones from all over the world. V

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Magnificent collage! Wow! Ill have to come back again...I'm not sure I got to all of them!!! Fascinating how those were built in to the facade! Well done! Cathy

Gracie said...

How interesting! I didn't know about that, it's such a nice way to celebrate a newspaper, don't you think? pieces from all over the world.....

Sheila said...

Pat - the thing I love about your blog is that you introduce us to wonderful places and buildings that we might never know about otherwise. By focusing in on the details you take us on a fascinating guided tour. I have been thinking that I must try to take more than one picture of everything. So often I try for the perfect postcard shot and it's the next pictures that tell the rest of the story. I found this story fascinating - thanks once again.

Sea Witch said...

Pat, I had no idea that the Trib building had these marvelous things. I will look forward to visiting Chicago again and will have to look a little closer now. PS-your package is on the way. Sea Witch

Picket said...

Morning sweetie...always love visiting here...I learn something new everytime...wish you had been my history teacher in high school! lol Hope all is well with you and yours and that you have a great week girl....Picket

Sarah said...

Pat, what an interesting post. I haven't been to Chicago since I was in high school. It is definitely time to visit this important city. You would be the best tour guide!
Thanks for sharing these amazing sights from your recent trip. ~ Sarah

Beverly said...

Pat, this is fascinating. Thank you for your photography efforts, and for sharing this history with us.

RoeH said...

That is so cool! I didn't know that at all but I've only been to Chicago once just overnight. I'd love to go back and see it all. I love what they did with all these other things in the world.

Lovella ♥ said...

Pat, I always learn something when I visit your posts. I of course know the Chicago Tribune name but that was as far as my knowledge of the actual building went. I thought your photo of the building as a whole was amazing and all the mosaics of those parts from near and far are indeed a treasure.

Grandmother Mary said...

The artifacts are wonderful and I'm glad you posted them so we could see so many. Also, the details of the stone work in the building is amazing.

Linda said...

What an amazing way to pay tribute by having all those artifacts on the building.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Remarkable! You always amaze me with your photos! Great mosaics this week! ♥

Claudia said...

We spent two hours at the Trib building (and many photos). It was fascinating. Paul was mesmerized by the WWII rememberances. I was enamored of antiquity. 26 miles by foot, 8 blisters, ready to limp home in the a.m. Love this city.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

That is really cool Pat. Did you know about this before you visited the building? What a great, informative post.

Barbara Rosenzweig said...

Thanks for visiting me! Glad that you enjoyed my flowers. It's been raining here, too (outside of Philly), but I love to work in the garden anyway.
Love your wonderful photographs!
Barb

Houseelf said...

What an amazing building. I love the flying buttresses! It is so special to see those rocks and sculptures from all over the world there. I think Westminster Abbey were a bit stingy with their sample though. :-)

Catherine said...

Hi Pat! Catching up with your posts has been fun. This will be one of my favorites.

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

A spectacular building from a time when newspapers were revered (and deservedly so, most of the time). The choice to include the stones and artifacts was quite visionary and made for a truly unique place. Thank you for the opportunity to see something I'd never heard of ... but will one day hopefully see in person.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

I've never visited the Chicago Tribune building but after seeing your photos would love to include on our next visit to Chicago! So interesting!

Gracey is not my name.... said...

That is really very cool! I've never been to Chicago and would like to visit the city..