Daniel Hudson Burnham, an Architectural Chronology & Legacy in Photos |
Daniel Hudson Burnham was one of the pioneers in the skyscraper & Chicago-style movement. When his partner John Wellborn Root died in 1891, Burnham became the prime overseer of the planning of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which entrenched the Beaux Arts Classical popularity in America almost to World War I. Burnham became preeminent city planner producing master plans for Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., & Manila in the Philippines. Burnham's landmark buildings which still stand include the Flatiron Building, New York, Santa Fe Building & Orchestra Hall, Chicago, & Union Station, Washington, DC. Burnham's firms were called Burnham & Root, D.H. Burnham & Co. (1893), Graham, Burnham, & Co (1912 when Burnham died) & Graham, Anderson, Probst & White (1917 to present - names of Burnham's apprentices). Original images by Jim Steinhart trace Daniel Hudson Burnham's artistry & legacy. |
- Sept. 4, 1846: Daniel Hudson Burnham born in Henderson, NY.
- After career delays Burnham apprentices as draftsman to architect William LeBaron Jenney, "Father of skyscrapers".
- 1872: Burnham moves to Chicago, works for architectural firm of Carter, Drake, & Wright.
- There, Burnham meets future architectural partner, John Wellborn Root (1850-1891).
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- 1888: Rookery Building, Chicago by Burnham & Root. Transition skyscraper - part masonry wall, part steel girder frame. Burnham & Root make top floors their offices. Many meetings here for Chicago World's Fair planning.
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- 1892: Chicago Masonic Temple (21 floors) world's tallest skyscraper.
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- Burnham & Root become overall planners for World Columbian Exposition, with longer experienced Root as lead.
- 1891: Root dies, Burnham takes charge, but direction of fair shifts from Root's innovative to classical style.
- 1893: Exposition opens: includes Fine Arts Building which will later house Museum of Science & Industry.
- Fair a popular success & its Beaux Arts style of classicism becomes fad in American architecture up to World War I.
- Burnham's career is made.
- Burnham & Root renamed D.H. Burnham & Company.
- After fair, all structures except one are demolished.
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- June 1, 1912: Burnham dies in Heidelberg, Germany.
- Burnham buried on an island in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
- Four long time apprentices: Ernest Graham, Pierce Anderson, Edward Probst & Howard White joined by Burnham's two sons, Hubert & Daniel Jr. form Graham, Burnham & Company to continue projects underway.
- 1917: Firm renamed Graham, Anderson, Probst & White.
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