Maxwell-Briscoe Automobile Company Showroom
Why it's listed
Built in 1909 at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 18th Street in Chicago, this four-story building was designed as a showroom for the Maxwell-Briscoe Motor Co. of Tarrytown, New York. Architect William Ernest Walker used wire-cut red brick with buff glazed terra cotta trim, including stepped pediments filled with cartouches, shields, acanthus leaves and cornucopias at the corners. Brick piers frame large plate glass windows on the ground floor. The building served as a showroom until 1915, when it was converted to storage. It is considered one of the earliest surviving showrooms in the city and an early example of the large, multi-story corner showroom type that shaped Chicago's Motor Row. Apart from a removed cornice and two new service entrances, the exterior remains close to its original appearance. A recent rehabilitation was reviewed under federal standards, and the building now houses offices.
Significance in brief: It is one of the earliest surviving intact automobile showrooms in Chicago and part of the Motor Row multiple property listing. It is significant under Criterion A for Commerce and Criterion C for Architecture as an early example of the large, multi-story corner showroom building type. Its original brick, enameled terra cotta ornament and window patterns remain largely intact.
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 02001349, listed November 18, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1737 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | November 18, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001349 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1915 |
| Architect / builder | Ernest Walker |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated and currently used as offices; it no longer functions as an automobile showroom. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.86017, -87.62360 (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 02001349.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q48810737
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.