Chicago's Loop

Then and Now

by Janice A. Knox, Heather Olivia Belcher

Chicago's famed "Loop" is said to have gotten its name from the route of a cable car that looped the central business district in 1882. Since then, much has changed. This book captures the evolving urban landscape of the Chicago Loop, with a collection of over 100 vintage images, each coupled with its contemporary counterpart. Few cities are as renowned for their architecture as is Chicago. The impressive skyscrapers in and around the Loop give Chicago a skyline second to none. And with more than three dozen historic landmarks, the Loop is home to many of the city's most recognized structures. From a 19th century trading post to the great financial, business, and entertainment districts of the 21st century, Chicago's Loop: Then and Now documents the growth and changes of the Windy City's downtown.

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2002

Reviews

[M.J. Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing look at the Chicago Loop!

In this book, Heather Olivia Belcher takes the reader on a tour of the Loop of Chicago, through vintage photos and postcards. She compares the vintage photos and postcards with her own photos of contemporary scenes in the Loop. An example: Heather made a photo of the Shedd Aquarium and compared it to the vintage photo of the same building. Also, there is a McDonald’s in the Delaware Building. Any fan of Chicago will enjoy this Then and Now book!

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you know little about a city, it is always interesting to see how it has changed over time. Buildings are built that are state of the art at the time of construction, but businesses and societal needs alter over time. These changes necessitate either significant revisions or the complete destruction of buildings.
Chicago’s first permanent settler was a black fur trader named Jean Baptiste Point DuSable that had a Native American wife and he established a trading post on the north bank of the Chicago River. This was the first commercial enterprise in what was to become Chicago and it was successful, leading others to settle in the area. With access to Lake Michigan, which meant all of the Great Lakes area was within reasonable reach and with the Chicago River flowing from the inland through the area, there was access deep into the interior. It was not long before there was a portage that allowed goods to travel from the Mississippi River basin fairly easily back-and-forth to Chicago. This linkage was completed in 1848, only 11 years after the city was incorporated.
These photos demonstrate a city that is seemingly always in transition, where buildings go up, are functional for a long time and then are either dramatically altered or demolished and replaced. Due to its central location as a transit point for goods, the city grew extremely fast and you can see that in these before and after images.