Drake Hotel
Why it's listed
Occupying a corner site where Walton Street, Michigan Avenue and East Lake Shore Drive meet, the Drake Hotel is a 13-story limestone building completed in 1920 and designed by the firm of Marshall and Fox. The building shifts from a rectangular base to an H-plan at the third story, giving light and air to guest rooms on all sides. Its facade draws on the Italian Renaissance, with pilasters, columns, balconettes, a belt course and a dentiled cornice. Shops line the ground floor, while the main public rooms, including the grand ballroom, are on the second floor in the manner of a piano nobile. The nomination presents the hotel as a fine example of the period's return to classical models and as an important part of Chicago's cityscape. It sits at the northern end of Michigan Avenue, on land created by landfill in the Streeterville area, and helps define the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Its alterations have been minor.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is significant for its architectural design, for the architects who created it, and for its contribution to Chicago's urban design. Its Italian Renaissance styling reflects a return to more correct historical models around the First World War. It also anchors the northern end of Michigan Avenue and defines the character of its neighborhood.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001345, listed May 8, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 140 E. Walton St., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | May 8, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001345 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Marshall and Fox |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts / Renaissance Revival (Italian Renaissance articulation) |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition and little altered; used as a hotel. Single-pane windows have replaced sash windows on the upper stories. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.90050, -87.62430 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001345.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5305603
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.