 Landmarks by Design
Fort Sheridan's central tower is not only a noted landmark but also a prominent representation of the architectural style that characterized the fort. This structure, built in 1891, was one of the first at the site and, even today, it is a compelling symbol of the fort.
The tower was originally 227 feet tall, but in 1940, engineers shortened it by 60 feet to preserve its structural integrity. The original roof was steeply pitched in the Romanesque style. It served as an elevated water storage tank, and required more than one million bricks to build. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1984, it is said to be modeled after the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, Italy.
History in the making
Between 1889 and 1910, the Chicago architectural firm of Holabird & Roche designed the tower and the original 64 historic buildings on the grounds. Now known as Holabird & Root, the firm became well-known for its “early skyscraper” or Chicago School construction. Features of this style are steel-frame construction, distinctive three-part windows, and terra cotta bonding. Among Holabird & Roche's other Chicago landmarks dating from the same era are the Marquette Building at 140 South Dearborn Street and the Chicago Building at 7 West Madison Street in Chicago.
The fort's structures reflect the influence of the prairie style, while emerging as predominantly Romanesque. Low, horizontal brick buildings are paired with recessed, rounded windows and ornate detailing. The construction of the original 64 buildings made use of over six million bricks formed with clay from the local bluffs.
Landscape architect Ossian C. Simonds worked alongside Holabird & Roche to create a prairie-style landscape that would complement the buildings at Fort Sheridan. He laid out connecting roads and paths in interesting loops that followed the natural terrain. Simonds used a large open space for the fort's parade grounds to create a balance with the deep ravines at both ends of the fort. Rugged bluffs along the shoreline offered grand vistas and a peaceful contrast to the bustle of military life at the fort.
The lay of the land
Traditionally, army forts had been built in a “hollow square” design in which buildings surrounded a flat, open quadrangle. Fort Sheridan's parade grounds, conceived in a more naturalistic style, followed an irregular oval plan and served as the setting for many of the military exercises and ceremonies at the fort. Bordering trees, shrubs, and native plantings placed at irregular intervals extended the natural boundaries into surrounding terrain, suggesting a prairie landscape. The tower, flanked by barracks, dominated this area. When the fort was first built, Sheridan Road ran underneath the tower's archway.
Across the parade grounds from the Tower and barracks stood the Bachelor Officer Quarters and Mess. Officers with families lived in the elegant homes skirting the lakeside roads, with the largest homes situated on the bluffs. Enlisted men were housed further south near the practical structures, such as the Army Mess Hall, Stables, Central Heating Plant, Commissary, and Storehouse.
Although the buildings separated soldiers by rank and function, and reflect different levels of ornamentation and sophisticated design, they are compatible and share the same basic design. This adds to the harmony of the fort's environment, integrating residential, functional, and naturalistic elements in a pleasing and practical way.
The fort's utilitarian buildings share the same cream-colored bricks and feature arched and curved Romanesque details. The basic design is understated and classic. In contrast, the architecture of the officers' homes reveals a more ornate interpretation of Romanesque elements often referred to as “Richardsonian Romanesque.” Arches, arcades, and tall recessed windows are joined with towers, gables, and domed porches, lending a “Queen Anne” look to some of the homes. The overall effect is dignified, and the natural colors blend well with their surroundings.
A glimpse at the past
The buildings and grounds of Fort Sheridan offer a glimpse into past days in a setting that has retained its natural beauty through decades of change. The human drama acted out against the backdrop of the majestic bluffs, bold ravines, and crashing waves of Lake Michigan's shoreline make this place a stirring testimony to the people who lived and worked here.
Today, a total of 94 buildings at Fort Sheridan are designated National Historical Landmarks. Many have been converted to private homes and condominiums, while retaining their structural authenticity.
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