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 after Burnham died) & Graham, Anderson, Probst & White (1917 to present - names of Burnham's apprentices). Since the record is often unclear as to whose hand originated which design, works by partners & apprentices of Burnhams are included. Original images by Jim Steinhart trace Daniel Hudson Burnham's artistry & legacy.

Click here for Burnham photos on this page in an enlargeable format.	Subject index for Architects
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).
c1875: Burnham & Root design Old Stone Gate of Chicago Union Stockyards, their oldest extant structure.
1891: Monadnock Building by Root, Chicago among last skyscrapers supported by stone walls.
1895: Reliance Building by Atwood, Chicago.
1889: Society for Savings Building, Cleveland.
1892: Chicago Masonic Temple (21 floors) world's tallest skyscraper.	(demolished)
1892: Marshall Field Company Store, Chicago.
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.
1901: Flatiron (Fuller) Building, New York becomes tallest skyscraper & symbol of New York City.
1902: Marshall Field Jr. Mansion addition, Chicago.
1903-9: St Paul's Episcopal Church, Sacramento.
1904: Santa Fe (former Railway) Building, Chicago.
1905: Symphony Center (former Theodore Thomas Orchestra Hall), Chicago .
1906: Fisher Building, Chicago .
1906: Tri-state (formerly Traction) building, Cincinnati.
1906: Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company renovations, Chicago.
1907: Wanamaker Department Store Annex, New York.
1907: Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad Station, Vicksburg, MS.
1908: Union Station, Washington, DC.
1910: Oliver Building, Pittsburgh.
1911: Peoples Gas Company Building, Chicago.
1912: Union Station Fountain, Washington, DC.
1912: Southern Building, Washington, DC.
1912-20: Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
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.
1914: May Company Building, Cleveland.