Montauk Building facts for kids
The Montauk Building, also known as the Montauk Block, was a very tall building in Chicago, Illinois. It was designed by two famous architects, John Wellborn Root and Daniel Burnham. The building was constructed between 1882 and 1883. It stood for about 20 years before it was taken down in 1902.
Some people believe the Montauk Building was the first building ever called a "skyscraper". This idea comes from a book called The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. This makes the Montauk Building an important part of history for very tall buildings.
Building a Tall Structure
The Montauk Building was special because of how it was built. It was one of the first buildings in the world where construction work continued even at night. This was unusual for the time. It was also said to be the first building in Chicago where work did not stop during the cold winter months. This helped speed up the building process.
How Big Was It?
The Montauk Building was located at 115 Monroe Street in Chicago. It was about 90 feet (27 m) wide and 180 feet (55 m) deep. The building stood 130 feet (40 m) tall and had 10 stories. It was one of the first tall buildings in Chicago to use a steel structure. This made it very strong.
The building had about 150 offices and could hold around 300 people. It also had two passenger elevators, which were quite modern for the 1880s. The Montauk Building cost about $325,000 to build.
What Happened to the Site?
After the Montauk Building was demolished in 1902, another building took its place. From 1903 to 1965, the First National Bank Building stood on the same spot. Then, in 1965, that building was also taken down. Today, the site is occupied by the Chase Tower, which is a very modern skyscraper.
