South Dearborn Street-Printing House Row Historic District
Why it's listed
This compact district along South Dearborn Street in Chicago brings together four major commercial buildings of the late 1800s, in an area associated with publishing and printing. The Manhattan Building, designed by William LeBaron Jenney, was the world's tallest when built and was the first to use wind bracing on its skeleton frame. Daniel Burnham's Fisher Building, with Gothic ornament, was one of the first curtain wall structures. The Old Colony Building, by Holabird and Roche, shows construction techniques of its day, and its narrow form suited the printing trades. The Monadnock Building was built in two parts, a north half by Burnham and Root in 1880-1891 and a south half by Holabird and Roche in 1893. It is one of the largest masonry bearing wall structures ever built and is often praised for its unified design. Together the buildings illustrate the Chicago School and the development of the skyscraper.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district groups four landmark buildings of the Chicago School that advanced skyscraper engineering and commercial design. The Manhattan Building was the tallest in the world when built and the first to use wind bracing for its skeleton frame. The Fisher Building was an early curtain wall structure, and the Monadnock is one of the largest masonry bearing wall buildings ever constructed.
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 76000705, listed January 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 343, 407, 431 S. Dearborn St. and 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | January 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000705 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | William LeBaron Jenney (Manhattan); Daniel H. Burnham (Fisher); William Holabird and Martin Roche (Old Colony); Daniel Burnham and John Root, then Holabird and Roche (Monadnock) |
| Architectural style | Chicago School; the Manhattan Building is described as Romanesque in style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 7, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The district is privately owned and marked occupied, with commercial use. The Monadnock Building is rated good in condition. The Manhattan Building's main door on South Dearborn Street was altered later. |
| Within district | Loop Retail Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.87850, -87.62817 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 76000705.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7245313
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.