Gateway to the North

In 1909, architect Daniel Burnham envisioned a monumental gateway between Chicago’s north and south sides: the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Until this time, North Michigan Avenue (then Pine Street) had not experienced the same growth as the southern end, due in part to the inconvenience of crossing the river.

Edward Bennett designed the bridgehouses in the Beaux-Arts style, and construction began in 1917. The bridge opened May 14, 1920, to cannon fire, marching bands, ship horns, and parades-another grand vision realized in the “city of big shoulders.”

Today, Bennett’s bridge is a designated Chicago landmark.