imeline of Chicago Architecture For a full timeline of Chicago's history, click here. 1800 1818 - Illinois becomes a state. 1832 - Architect William LeBaron Jenney is born. 1837 - Chicago officially becomes a city. 1846 - Architect Daniel Burnham is born. 1850 1856 - Architect Louis Sullivan is born. 1867 - Architect Frank Lloyd Wright is born. 1869 - Chicago's Water Tower is finished by W. W. Boyington. 1871 - The Great Chicago Fire destroys much of the city. 1872 - Architect John Root moves to Chicago. 1881 - Holabird and Roche architectural firm is founded. 1886 - Architect Mies van der Rohe is born. 1882 - Marshall Field & Co. begins building new store on State St. 1888 - The Rookery is built. 1889 - The Auditorium Building is built. 1891 - The Monadnock Building is built. 1892 - The Museum of Science and Industry building is built by Daniel Burnham for the Columbian Exposition. 1893 - The World's Columbian Exposition is held in Chicago. 1893 - The Art Institute is finished in conjunction with the Columbian Exposition. 1894 - Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill architectural firm is founded.   1900 1902 - The Willits House is built in Highland Park, Illinois, by Frank Lloyd Wright. 1904 - Wright builds W. E. Martin House. 1907 - Wright designs new lobby for The Rookery. 1909 - Wright completes the Robie House in Chicago. 1914 - Wrigley Field is built. 1916 - Navy Pier is built. 1919 - Wrigley Building is built. 1925 - Soldier Field is built. 1925 - Hood and Howells' award-winning design of Tribune Tower is built. 1927 - Buckingham Fountain is built in Grant Park. 1930 - Adler Planetarium is built. 1930 - Chicago Board of Trade building is finished by Holabird and Root. 1931 - Merchandise Mart is built. 1933 - Shedd Aquarium is built. 1933 - Century of Progress world's fair in Chicago.   1950 1959 - Marina City is built by Bertrand Goldberg. 1965 - The Civic Center now called the Daley Center is Built. 1970 - John Hancock Center is built by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. 1974 - Sears Towers is completed and becomes the world's tallest building. 1985 - State of Illinois Building (now called Thompson Center) is finished.   2000 ???? Return To Top  BUILDINGS | ARCHITECTS | BASICS | GAMES | LINKS | BIBLIOGRAPHY | ABOUT US | EMAIL | HOME