View of the City of Chicago from the Top of the Light House at the Mouth of the River

Double page view of the mouth of the Chicago River.

“Apropos of the Convention of the Republican party at Chicago, we give a double-page view of the city, taken from the top of the light-house at the mouth of the river, and showing the Exposition Building on the left.” [Text on the verso]

The Exposition Building seems almost an afterthought in the background of this energetic view of the Chicago River looking downtown. Ships of all shapes and sizes crowd the water, while grain elevators and smokestacks loom over the skyline. A swing bridge is open to facilitate maritime traffic, and stacks of lumber and other commodities awaiting export are shown on the wharves.

An interesting depiction of Chicago’s economic heart in the late 19th century. Drawn by Schell and Graham and published in the June 7, 1884 issue of Harper’s Weekly.