Chicago Building Atlas · Research library

Prairie Avenueat the turn of the century.

Reconstructing the street in 1904, one building and one source at a time. Explore its houses, changing streetscape, and the evidence that survives.

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Scope & limits

Later maps and photographs are evidence of their own dates. Unknown dates remain unknown; a surviving footprint is not proof of its 1904 appearance.

Building histories

The street, house by house

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Photographs, drawings, maps & filings

The street in pictures

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A picture is evidence of its own date: a 1960s survey photograph shows the house after sixty years of change. Items in copyright are described and linked to their holder, never copied here.

Source sheets & measured drawings

Maps & images

Open the full-resolution file to inspect dimensions and symbols. The 1886 material is for lost buildings only; the 1911 sheets require a building-by-building check against the 1904 target.

1911 observations · separate evidence layer

Mapped frontage inventory

These are printed map labels and observed footprints, not verified 1904 houses or legal parcels. This inventory does not change when you move the research-year slider.

Reading rules & lost-building exceptions

Directory evidence · candidate readings

Listed people & addresses

Selected-name directories are not a complete census. Listings do not establish ownership, a full household, vacancy, or building geometry. The publication year is shown separately from the reconstruction year.

Anchor building · 1800 S. Prairie Avenue

Glessner House, in detail

Recovered references, remaining views and photographic brief

Documents, images & references

The source library

A catalog link identifies a source; it does not mean every page has been transcribed. Rights statements govern reuse of each item.