Office Tremont House, Cor. Lake and Dearborn Sts. 1850 - 1871

Lovejoy and Foster created this stereograph, "Office Tremont House, Cor. Lake and Dearborn Sts.," using two cameras to give the viewer a 3D experience. These stereographs were popular in the mid-19th century and offered a way to see places near and far. This image offers a glimpse into the social life of 19th-century Chicago, as well as the politics of space. A luxurious hotel bar like this one would have been a male-dominated space, excluding women and reinforcing gendered social norms. The well-dressed men, likely businessmen or travelers, suggest a certain level of affluence. The photograph also hints at the racial dynamics of the time. While not explicitly visible, the absence of people of color speaks volumes about who was welcome in such establishments. The Tremont House, like many elite spaces, likely upheld the racial segregation. As you look at this image consider how spaces like this can tell us a lot about the power dynamics of the past.