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Lost Chicago
Lost Chicago looks at the cherished places in the city that time, progress and fashion have swept aside. The series from Pavilion Books looks back in loving detail at many of the things that have helped create a city’s unique identity that have since disappeared; the streetcars, the shops, the parks, the churches, the amusement parks, even the annual parades. It looks at the architectural gems that failed to be preserved, the hotels that could not be adapted and fell to the wrecking ball and the novelty buildings. Famous landmarks, much-loved restaurants, sports stadia, movie palaces (that really were palaces), pleasure gardens, piers and lake steamers, plus the Union stockyards – all feature in Lost Chicago. The book also includes buildings from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, the World's Fair that showed Chicago had bounced back from its ruinous fire of 1871. There are the industries that once drove the Chicago economy but have since moved on, meat-packing, railcar construction and mail-order being three of its world renowned businesses. Listed by date of loss, Lost Chicago traces a nostalgic path from the time it was known both as the Windy City and Porkopolis.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 15, 2012
Pictures of old buildings. Interesting historical tidbits. What's not to like?
November 15, 2021
This coffee-table photo essay book pays homage to the lost architecture and history of Chicago. Rare photographs reveal the city’s storied past while current views testify to the changes that have occurred. Examining both the recent past the city’s early days, the only constant here is change.
Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, through the great fire of 1871, through the mid-twenty-first century, readers can explore both the places and the stories as they explore cherished places that time and circumstance have swept aside.
Recommended.
Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, through the great fire of 1871, through the mid-twenty-first century, readers can explore both the places and the stories as they explore cherished places that time and circumstance have swept aside.
Recommended.
May 18, 2021
Really fascinating! Explores some of the history and architecture of Chicago that's come and gone. Some of the city's buildings were enormous fortresses - it's hard to imagine the time and labor investment that went into their creation (and the work of tearing them down). So much, too, lost in fires. A lot of things came and went before my time. Would be interesting to see more pictures/talk to people who knew them well.
March 31, 2019
I’m not typically a picture book but this book may have changed my opinion. It was the perfect subject matter to have pictures. Living in Chicago it makes it an interesting view of places I see everyday and what used to be there
April 27, 2018
I just wish so many of these buildings were still standing today. Great history and photographs though.
June 7, 2021
Chicago has always been one of my favorite cities and it was so increasing to learn more about the history of Chicago.
January 6, 2022
Fascinating look at the history of a great city
February 21, 2013
Lost Chicago is truly a treasure and a must read for history lovers. Paulett masterfully marries the rare photographs with equally rare insights and facts that I've not seen before. Beautifully rendered, Lost Chicago will have a permanent place on my coffee table! BRAVO!
July 8, 2015
Super fun coffee table book that I got for my birthday. The authors take a few liberties with the expression "lost treasures". Sears Tower changing it's name does not qualify it as lost, the building is still here. But for the most part this was a very interesting read.
April 25, 2013
Nothing new or ground-breaking here, but it's always nice to have another book dedicated to Chicago's lost architecture and to see some great old photos from the Library of Congress archives.
January 6, 2014
Really cool book with some great pictures and descriptions. Even a Chicago history buff like myself learned a few things. I would have liked to have seen more "after" photos for comparison.
April 4, 2016
Probably my new favorite coffee table book.
January 26, 2013
Great photos and a nice format. Not too descriptive, the photos speak for themselves.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews