Rand McNally Building facts for kids
The Rand McNally Building was a very important building in Chicago, built between 1889 and 1911. It was designed by a famous architecture team called Burnham and Root. This building was special because it was the world's first skyscraper made completely with a steel frame. This new way of building allowed buildings to be much taller and stronger.
What Was the Rand McNally Building?
The Rand McNally Building stood at 160–174 Adams Street in Chicago. It was built in 1889 and cost about $1 million, which was a lot of money back then! The building was about 45 meters (148 feet) tall and had 10 floors. Inside, there were 16 shops and 300 offices.
Who Used the Building?
The main company in the building was Rand, McNally & Co.. They were a big company that printed books and maps. About 900 people worked for them in this building.
Other important groups also had offices there:
- The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway had their main offices on the second and third floors. This was a major train company.
- The headquarters for the World's Columbian Exposition were on the fourth and fifth floors. This was a huge world's fair held in Chicago in 1893.
- A company called the Long Distance Telephone Company was also in the building. From here, people could make phone calls all the way to New York City! This was a very new and exciting thing at the time.
Why Was It Demolished?
The Rand McNally Building was torn down in 1911. A bigger, more modern building was built in its place. That newer building still stands on the site today. For many years, it was home to the City National Bank & Trust Company.
