Painstakingly researched, From Railyards to High-Rises uncovers the buried history of a unique part of Chicago. Craig Hutson unveils how it was transformed from lake into land into railyards, and, finally, into an urban high-rise enclave.
The railroad, the city, and the state battled over ownership of land, water, and air. Bold developers tried to bring their grand visions to life while navigating credit crunches, recessions, a depression, a pandemic, and even radioactive material. Politicians looked to build a great city but wrestled amongst themselves and with their citizens, who fought for their voice, rights, and space. Meanwhile, architects either designed the tried and true or took daring leaps in their creations.
Craig Hutson chronicles the story of lakefront land that was literally shaped and molded by the Illinois Central Railroad. He shows how it evolved into Chicago’s Illinois Center, the New East Side, and Lakeshore East. It’s a story driven by the earliest settlers, the railroad, the city of Chicago, and by audacious developers, architects, and community advocates.
A rare story untold until now, From Railyards to High-Rises collects over two centuries’ worth of history, using thousands of sources, including newspaper articles, insightful interviews, legal documents, and more, to tell a story for history buffs, Chicago residents, and visitors alike.
Listed in Society of Architectural Historians Booklist—December 2023
Craig Hutson is a nonfiction author passionate about Chicago history, specializing in the city’s urban development and transformation. His debut book, From Railyards to High-Rises, tells the fascinating story of a distinctive area in Chicago where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan. He explores how this area was transformed from lake into land into railyards, and, finally, into an urban high-rise enclave—a key chapter in Chicago’s history and urban development.
Before writing From Railyards to High-Rises, he worked in research and development in both academia and industry. With an engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he combines strong analytical skills with a passion for Chicago history to provide a fresh perspective on the city’s historical development.
Craig Hutson is currently working on his next book, which offers a new take on Chicago’s history and urban growth. He often shares insights on Chicago’s history and development across LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
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