Historic Photos of Chicago

He was pleasantly surprised. It had pictures and views that he had never seen before. Being a life-long resident of Chicago, it showed views that he never sought he would see.

The pictures are so awesome I just wish that there were more text. I am very intrigued by the 1892 Chicago World's Fair and the descriptions of "The White City". I am so sorry that most of it was burned to the ground in the decades that followed.This is a perfect coffee table book.. anyone can pick it up & thumb through it and enjoy the photos and descriptions. I hope many people will. As Liz Lemon would say: "I want to go to there!"

I received this book for Christmas after placing it on my Amazon wish list. I read the book "Devil in the White City" and wanted to see pictures of the Chicago World's Fair that was in my head. This book is filled with incredible pictures and a history of what has to be one of the most amazing feats of architects and crafts people ever built and then destroyed in such a short period of time. I would highly recomend to anyone who has read Devil in the White City.

Exactly what I had wanted. I had read The Devil in the White City and was facinated by the construction of the buildings at the Chicago Worlds Fair and wanted very much to see what they looked like. I could only imagine what an undertaking it was but with this book I was able to actually see the enormity of it all. Simply fascinating! I had looked at several books on Amazon on this subject and was glad I spent the little extra to get this hardcover one.

I didn't hate the book, but it was not all that it could be or what I expected. There were no knockout photos. Just a humongous amount of very pedestrian long shots, it seemed taken from far, far away. Also the photos seemed overly grainy, as though they were bad reprints.

Purchased this for gift. He has other books with historical photos of Chicago but this had different photographs, and he enjoyed it alot. This is a good collection of photographs for people interested in history as well as architecture. Sad that so many of these fine building have been torn down.

Planning to purchase this book to add to my Chicago collection, I decided to borrow a library copy first. I am glad I did. The collection of selected photos are mostly significant buildings and commercial areas in the loop and the southside. The period covered in the book dates from before the fire to 1970. The people portraits (few) are predominantly prominent, movers and shakers or crowd scenes. A city is its people and neighborhoods, few of which appear in this collection. This is a fine book for those who want a photographic record of buildings that have been demolished. Chicago is well known for its lack of historical preservation. If you want a book that depicts the soul of Chicago seek it elsewhere.

This is a museum in hardback! This beautifully put together collection of photos and captions span the life of this vital and popular city. This title begins before the Great Fire of Chicago, detailing various elements and people. From there the lucky reader is transported to different time periods through the beautifully taken photos of buildings and places unique and popular for this city. It details the changes Chicago has undergone as well as immortalizing historic buildings that no longer exist.Mr. Lewis has done an amazing job telling the story of Chicago through these wonderful photos and captions. For the bibliophile this is a must have book you'll want to add to your library. This could also be used as a reference book. This is one title I have no trouble recommending.