Cyclorama Building—Michigan Avenue

Cyclorama
Life Span: 1883-1893
Location: Michigan Avenue, between Madison and Monroe streets
Architect:

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880

American Panorama Co.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1885
Battle of Shiloh, Michigan av. nr. Monroe

Rand, McNally & Co.’s Bird’s-Eye Views of Chicago, 1893

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⑧ The Chicago Fire Cyclorama.
At 127-132 Michigan Avenue, receives some description and comment in our chapter on “Amusements.” The building was erected in 1892, and occupies a lot 120 feet wide by 180 feet deep. The height is 60 feet. It is said that 144,000 people view the circular painting each year.

—To the country visitor doubtless the of which in offer are now five the city, will delight and surprise. The northernmost is opposite the Art Institute, and represents the Chicago Fire. It is more truly the burned district as it appeared on the morning of October 9, 1871. It is accurately historical, and should be seen. The color, however, is far too low in tone, a truer effect being obtained by viewing it through red glass. At Hubbard Court and Wabash Avenue will be found two similar exhibitions on opposite corners. The western one is Gettysburg, the first of our permanent institutions of this character. The illusions of these devices can not be described, and, although those of the Chicago Fire are perhaps best, all are interesting and remarkable. Across the way from Gettysburg is Jerusalem and the Crucifixion, and here the scene along the road-side is a faithfully presented picture, and a row of water-jars represented in the foreground is scarcely distinguishable from similar, yet actual, objects in close proximity.

The entrance fee to these remarkable illusions and pictures is 50 cents, and you may stay as long as you please, an interesting lecture being delivered meanwhile. “Paris by Moonlight” was the first cyclorama seen in Chicago. It was shown in the Exposition Building in 1875. “Jerusalem, “The Siege of Paris,” “Shiloh,” and the “Monitor and Merrimac” have since been exhibited to admiring throngs. The artist who gained greatest celebrity in this work had the alarming name of Philippoteaux.

Panoramas.
We thus have arrived at a point which may be called a northern terminus, at least of this description. Two cycloramas are at hand. In one at the west is the Battle of Gettysburg, the most popular of paintings. It has been on exhibition for over ten years, and represents Pickett’s charge. In the other house there have been displayed the Siege of Paris, the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Jerusalem at the Crucifixion, and Niagara Falls, the fidelity of the latter being perfect. A new and striking cyclorama of Jerusalem and the Crucifixion has just been placed on exhibition in this house. The other cycloramas, north on Michigan Avenue, have shown the Battle of Shiloh and the Monitor and Merrimac. The Chicago Fire is now on exhibition. The first cyclorama ever seen in Chicago was in 1874, at the Exposition Building on the Lake Front Paris by Moonlight, a beautiful and descriptive scene. Parisian guide books of 1802 show five cycloramas at that date. Philippoteaux was the greatest painter of these monster canvases. We have thus carefully and sincerely shown such of the chief beauties of the South Side as may be seen in a drive of twenty-two miles. Taking the region as it is, and for what it promises to become, it is indeed a wonderful display of luxury, art, and taste; and the visitor who has taken the three drives laid out in this
Guide will be convinced that Chicago is already a city of vast extent more like London than any other American metropolis.

Rand, McNally & Co.’s Bird’s-Eye Views of Chicago, 1898

The northernmost is opposite the Art Institute, and represents the Chicago Fire. It is more truly the burned district as it appeared on the morning of October 9, 1871. It is accurately historical, and should be seen. The color, however, is far too low in tone, a truer effect being obtained by viewing it through red glass. Located on Michigan ave,, near Madison St., opposite the old Exposition building. This is a cycloramic building, formerly occupied by the picture of the Battle of Shiloh. Slides, roller skating, music by military band and novelties make up the entertainment. Open day and evening. Admission, 50 cents ; children, half-price.

The success of the Chicago Cyclorama generated imitators – at one time there were two dozen such paintings. But by the end of the 1880s, the cyclorama was no longer the attraction it once was.

The Chicago Cyclorama closed in 1890 but was refurbished for the Columbian Exposition in 1893. It closed in 1895 and was allegedly destroyed in a fire.

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Observanda, McVicker’s New Theater, 1891

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Chicago Tribune, March 4, 1888

THE NEW CYCLORAMA
That Famous Battle Between the Monitor and the Merrimac.
There will shortly be placed on exhibition at the Shiloh Building on Michigan avenue.

Some of the names of the companies that produced panoramas in Chicago were:

American Panorama
One of the most striking and beautiful buildings on Wabash avenue, is that built by the American Panorama Company for the exhibition of F. Philippoteaux’ last and greatest battlepiece of “The Siege of Paris; or, The Battle of Montretout.” It is located at the southeast corner of Wabash avenue and Hubbard Court. The height of the main building, which is circular, is over 80 feet, and the circumference is more than 400 feet. The entrance building in front is a model of architectural and beauty. Embowered in trees, with lawns in front and at the sides, this immense structure presents a striking appearance. itself corresponds in size to the ‘he building. It is recognized by artists and connoisseurs as one of the masterpieces of the century, and by the general public as one of the grandest productions of genius. It is open from 8.30 a. m. until 10.30 p. m., Sundays included.

Chicago Tribune, April 3, 1892

Chicago Tribune, April 7, 1892

PRONOUNCED IT AN ARTISTIC SUCCESS.
The Opening Reception of the Cyclorama of the Chicago Fire.
The opening reception of the Cyclorama of the Chicago Fire was given yesterday afternoon on the central platform in the Cyclorama Building, No. 130 Michigan avenue. After an address of welcome and some explanation of the manner in which the great painting was made, and what it comprised, by Howard Gross, the President of the Cyclorama company, Prof. David Swing made a few remarks commending the naturalness and truthfulness with the some scene is depicted, and giving an account of some amusing incidents in his own experience at the time of the great conflagration. Mrs. Alice Demeres Bennis sang two selections and responded to an encore. One of them was George F. Root’s ballad, “As Ye Have Done It Unti Me,” which relates the story of the fire and the assistance rendered to Chicago by other cities. Mrs. Anna D. Spence recited Will Carleton’s poem, “The Burning of Chicago.” Bishop Fallows then followed with a short address, relating his experiences during and after the fire and congratulating the city upon having the most remarkable event in its history so admirably commemorated. Among the 500 or more guests present were many of the oldest and best known citizens of Chicago, most of whom witnessed the fire. These commended the accuracy with which landmarks, once familiar to them, are portrayed, and all were able to pronounce it an artistic success.

Chicago Tribune April 8, 1893

CYCLORAMA BUILDING IN RUINS.
Another Structure Near the Fair Gives Way to the Wind—Escapes.
Just after 12 o clock another flimsy affair surrendered to the force of only a medium wind, and is now a mass of ruins. It was a frame structure of circular form, fifty-four feet high and 128 feet in diameter, being erected for the purpose of exhibiting a panorama of the Battle of Chattanooga. About fifty workmen were engaged in the construction, but one of them bad just to dinner, and thus escaped unharmed. A few who were in thle building also escaped.

In falling part of the north wall fell upon a one-story frame next north, breaking part of the roof and south wall, damaging it about $75. George Collins was the contractor, and the building was worth about $1,200. It stood on the east side of Stony Island avenue a short distance south ot Pifty-seventh street.

Part of the front wall fell out into the street, breaking down sixty wires of the telephone and city fire alarm service. Men were at once sent for and the break in the wires was repaired before dark. The broken wires caused great inconvenience to persons south of there, cutting off all communication with the city.

Had the accident occurred fifteen sooner there would have been great loss of life, as many of the workmen were upon the roof of the dome-shaped structure, and would have met almost certain death. The building is a wreck, and most of the material is broken and destroyed.

A southwest wind was blowing at the time and those of the workmen who were eating their dinners in that of the were suddenly startled by the cracking sounds which the walls gave forth under the wind’s pressure. They hastily abandoned their position and their meal in the northwest corner, when suddenly the section they had just deserted, fell in. Among their number was a man who sat on a pile of boards eating a box of sardines. As the first side of the building fell his comrades dashed for the exit on the northeast corner, but the intrepid workman said he guessed he was as safe where he was as anywhere else and remained at his post inside the building. By a lucky coincidence the two walls at the intersection of which he sat fell outward and the workman walked forth from the debris unscathed.

In the days before motion pictures, cycloramas (each a giant mural running along the interior wall of a cylindrical room) were a popular form of entertainment. The Fire Cyclorama measured nearly 50 feet high by about 400 feet long and occupied its own building on Michigan Avenue, between Madison and Monroe Streets. In thrilling fashion, the enormous tableau depicted the events of October 8 to 10, 1871.

Fortunately an oil painting study created by the same team that produced the actual Cyclorama was preserved as it was recently discovered sitting, uncatalogued, in the Chicago History Museum archives. The painting, measured four feet high by forty feet long and contained scenes such as Panic at the Rush Street Bridge, Escaping to the River and Burning of the Old United States Marine Hospital. The study was made to 1/10 scale.

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Chicago Daily Tribune, September 17, 1893

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It was produced by The Simeon W. King Panorama Company. About 144,000 people attended the Cyclorama annually. After the exhibit closed, the canvas was stored on a warehouse on South Indiana Avenue then was sold to a junk dealer for $2.00 in 1913.

Cyclorama Building

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