Monadnock Building, Chicago

Debate still rages over whether this was the first skyscraper ever built. To Chicagoans, there is no question. The technology of 1891 prevented the 16-story building from going any higher, for the steel frame had yet to be invented. But Daniel Burnham and John Welborn Roots' gorgeous masonry work is an engineering marvel, as the base had to be six-feet thick to support the rest of the building. The interior of this building has been restored to reflect its 1890's past, down to details like the lights. Building tenants must adhere to strict interior design codes to remain faithful to the look of the building.

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