The Congress Hotel was built in 1893 for the Columbian
World's Exposition. Its architecture was designed to blend with that of the Auditorium
Theatre, and the hotel itself at one time was connected to the theatre, prior to
the construction of the Congress Parkway.
Architecture students from all over the world today come to Chicago to study the
architecture of the Congress Plaza Hotel. Clinton J. Warren was the architect of
our north tower, with Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler serving as consultants.
Built by Clinton J. Warren, who began his architectural career with Burnhan and Root
around 1880 and founded his own office in 1886. The ten-story north block of the
Congress, on the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway, was completed
in 1893. The fourteen-story addition to the south was sonstructed in two parts, in
1902 and 1907. Holabird and Roche received the commission for the annex but followed
Warren's design almost exactly.
1886 - Ferdinand Wythe Peck, a Chicago business man,
incorporates the Chicago Auditorium Association on December 8th for the purpose of
developing the world's largest, grandest, most expensive theater. The building is
to include an office block and a first class hotel. On the board are Marshall Field,
Edson Keith, Martin Ryerson, George Pullman, and other Chicago business tycoons.
Adler and Sullivan are hired to design
the project, based on their work at the Interstate Exposition Building.
1887 - October 5th, President Grover Cleveland lays the cornerstone for the Auditorium
Building.
1888 - The Republican National Convention is held in the partially finished Auditorium
Building. Benjamin Harrison is nominated. Adler and Sullivan hire a young draftsman,
Frank Lloyd Wright, to join
their firm.
1889 - In July, the first tenant, the Chicago Conservatory of Music and Dramatic
Art, moves into the Auditorium Building. On December 9th, President Benjamin Harrison
dedicates the Theatre before a standing room only crowd. Operatic idol, Madam. Adelina
Patti sings "Home Sweet Home".
Adler and Sullivan open their offices on the 16th and 17th floor of the Auditorium
tower.
1891 - The Chicago Symphony Orchestra debuts on October 16 and makes it home in the
Auditorium Theatre until moving to Orchestra Hall in 1904.
1912 - Theodore Roosevelt gives his famous "Bull Moose" speech at the Auditorium
and is nominated for President of the United States by the independent National Progressive
Party.
1952 - In order to widen Congress Street, a sidewalk is created through the south
end of the building, destroying the hotel cafe, the famous long bar, and other original
public areas.
1968-1975 - Auditorium
serves as Chicago's premier rock house with performances by Jimi Hendrix, The Who,
Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead and many others.
1975 - The Auditorium building is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
