Motor Row District

“The "urban canyon" formed by these buildings also gives a strong visual sense of the place for the district itself. It provides a clearly memorable image of what "Motor Row" must have meant to generations of Chicagoans who came here to shop for a new car during the first three decades of the 20th century, when the automobile became a standard feature of American society.”

“Others, however, are unfamiliar to the modern motorist, even though they ranked as among the top auto producers of their day. This list includes: Hudson, Locomobile, Marmon, Packard, Pierce-Arrow, Rambler, Stanley Steamer, and REO, the maker of the famed "Speedwagon." The oldest dealership in the Motor Row District was opened in 1905 by Henry Ford (catalog #1).”

“Kahn's early work was noted for its pioneering use of reinforced concrete, which he first employed in 1903 for a new manufacturing complex for the Packard Motor Car Co. in Detroit.”

“(#4; photo on p. 17). Like most Motor Row structures, it featured broad display windows at the first and second levels. However, its top floor has an ornate mansard roof with three dormers.”

“Ten of the earliest buildings were developed by a group of four individuals whose investments helped transform South Michigan Avenue into Chicago's "Motor Row." John P. Wilson (1844-1922) built the Ford showroom and leased it to the company for its branch agency.”

“The Motor Row District features the largest intact collection of early automobile dealerships and related businesses in the United States. Within a few years of the development of the first auto dealerships, a new type of commercial district had begun to merge in cities across the country, the so-called "automobile row." According to Chester Liebs, this new Main Street was: lined by walls of buildings whose shop windows, instead of being crammed full of jewelry, clothing, hardware, or groceries, showcased a single product-automobiles.”

“Smaller automobile rows appear in other cities, but, none appear to be as large or intact as Chicago's Motor Row. Dealerships and showrooms for most of the auto industry's earliest and most-famous manufacturers are featured in the Motor Row District.”

“A three-panel drawing by famed Chicago Tribune cartoonist John McCutcheon sums up the "evolution" of Michigan Boulevard into Motor Row. The top panel, dated 1890, shows a stretch of mansions, rowhouses, and churches.”

“Most of the earliest buildings in the Motor Row District were designed by Christian Eckstorm, an architect known for his high-quality industrial and commercial work. The early architectural character of Motor Row was heavily influenced by Christian Albert Eckstorm (1863-1927), who designed 12 buildings in the district between 1905 and 1919.”

“A year later, the Tribune (January 29, 1911) ran an article with the headline, "Changes Are Many Along 'Motor Row:' Now Finest in America." Included was a chart of the 116 "different makes of pleasure cars" that were being handled by Chicago dealers.”