Explore the fascinating history of Chicago's Merchandise Mart in this 31-minute video. Discover how this massive art deco masterpiece, once the world's largest building, became a "city within a city" with its own zip code and L stop. Learn about its construction atop a train yard, its connection to Chicago's abandoned underground freight tunnels, and its role in transforming the Chicago Loop. Delve into the building's grand opening, its importance to Chicago trade, and its evolution over nearly a century. Uncover intriguing details about the Merchandise Mart's basement, its radio broadcast history, and its involvement in the Chicago Flood. Gain insights into the building's size, its former rail freight yard, and its enduring impact on Chicago's urban landscape.
Forgotten Rail Yard Under Chicago's Largest Historic Building - Merchandise Mart
IT'S HISTORY via YouTube
Overview
Syllabus
- Why Merchandise Mart’s land has always been important to Chicago trade
- Construction of Merchandise Mart
- How big is Merchandise Mart?
- Merchandise Mart’s Grand opening
- Why Merchandise Mart is a “city within a city.”
- Tour of Merchandise Mart
- The History of Radio Broadcast at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart
- The Merchandise Mart Train station
- What happened to Merchandise Mart’s Rail Freight Yard
- What’s in the Merchandise Mart’s basement?
- Merchandise Mart’s connection to the Chicago Freight Tunnels
- The Chicago Flood was first noticed at Merchandise Mart
- How Merchandise Mart transformed the Chicago Loop
Taught by
IT'S HISTORY
