Chicago, IL: Michigan Avenue, 1928

Richard Pitchford posted

The statue above the Montgomery Ward headquarters sticks high in the sky.

Update:

Tina Sifrer posted

The lions were created by Edward Kemey, a world famous sculptor known for his pieces depicting wild animals. Kemey originally created the lions for the World's Columbia Exposition; they were two of six that were located at the entrance of the Fine Arts Palace, now the Museum of Science and Industry.

They were recast in bronze and presented as a gift to the Art Institute by Mrs. Henry Field, sister-in-law to Marshall Field, to celebrate the grand opening of the museum's new Michigan Avenue building in 1893. Whereas the lions don't have official names, Kemey called the south lion "stands in an attitude of defiance" and the north lion "on the prowl."

The lions have only been moved twice. In 1910, Michigan Avenue was widened and the statues were pushed 12 feet closer to the museum. In 2000, the lion known as "standing in an attitude of defiance" was moved to make room for a reconstruction project that included renovating of the foundation under the lions' pedestals and of the museum's front staircase. It was gone for six months.

Ed Raff posted a different exposure of this photo
The Art Institute 1895

Hannah Lee posted

Love the architecture of The Art Institute of Chicago and the lions that guard it. It’s amazing to think that they have been around since the 1893 World’s Fair!

I looked into the history of the lions and this is what I found. They were a gift from Mrs. Henry Field for the opening of the Art Institute in 1893. Their sculptor was Edward Kemeys. Their unofficial names are "In an Attitude of Defiance" (south lion) and "On the Prowl" (north lion).

"Guardian lions had been an important architectural theme of the World Columbian Exposition, where six pairs guarded the entrance of the Palace of Fine Arts. Kemeys had sculpted one of these pairs, which may have served as his model for the Art Institute lions (https://en.wikipedia.org/…/Art_Institute_of_Chicago_Building)."

Interestingly, the lions were moved back 12 feet (where they now stand) when Michigan Avenue was widened. [The postcard is from this website: http://vivekanandaabroad.blogspot.com/…/the-art-institute-o…]

Also, a short video about the history of the lions from WCIU:http://www.wciu.com/…/youand…/did-u-know-art-institute-lions.

BDBRCPC posted
Art Institute of Chicago, c. 1905, looking north from Adam.
Raymond Kunst shared

US City Views posted
Michigan Avenue Traffic Chicago (1927) In 1927, Michigan Avenue was a bustling thoroughfare, with traffic reflecting the rapid growth and modernization of Chicago. Known as the "Magnificent Mile," this stretch of Michigan Avenue was lined with impressive buildings, including the Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building, which had recently been completed. The avenue was a vital link between the city’s downtown core and the increasingly affluent North Side neighborhoods. The traffic in 1927 included a mix of automobiles, streetcars, and horse-drawn carriages, all navigating the busy streets as Chicagoans went about their daily lives. This scene captures the dynamic energy of the city as it entered the Roaring Twenties, a decade of economic prosperity and cultural change.