One of the most striking- and uniquely American- aspects of the Plan was its idealistic belief in Chicago as a city without limits. The planners believed their city could become the most beautiful and prosperous in the world, and they inspired its citizens to undertake the challenge.
This exhibition presents a selection of original drafts, letters, meeting minutes and images related to the Plan of Chicago, from the collections at the Ryerson & Burnham Archives at the Art Institute of Chicago. The online exhibit is organized around four themes:
- Before the Plan: a brief history of Burnham's work before the plan
- Creating the Plan: minutes and correspondence of the planning committees
- Drafts of the Plan: drafts of the Plan, including Burnham's complete, handwritten manuscripts
- Images of the Plan: lantern slides depicting the envisioned city
Art Institute of Chicago
Website: http://www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/research/specialcollections/planofchicago/images.html