Chicago Stock Exchange Building, Facade Panel 1894

This facade panel was designed by Adler & Sullivan for the Chicago Stock Exchange Building, sometime between 1883 and 1895. It speaks to an important moment in the history of American architecture and urban development. The Chicago Stock Exchange, completed in 1894, represented the city's burgeoning economic power. Architects Adler and Sullivan embraced modernism, with the Stock Exchange being a functional and visually striking building, reflecting Chicago's status as a center of trade and innovation. This panel is a fragment of that history, embodying the architectural ambition of the late 19th century. However, the demolition of the Stock Exchange in 1972 is also a commentary on social structures. Despite preservation efforts, it was torn down, signaling a shift in urban planning priorities. The panel survives as a reminder of what has been lost, and how institutions have the power to erase history. Understanding the panel's meaning requires archival research and an understanding of Chicago's economic and architectural history. It's through these research resources that the panel speaks to the contingent nature of art, architecture, and urban life.