An ideal guide for architects, builders, and all those who are passionate about architecture, this book takes the reader through the architecture of buildings in the heart of Chicago while providing a lesson in art history. Most of the inventions of modern architecture were born and tested in Chicago, from the balloon frame to the earliest skyscrapers providing a foundation for the newest generation of buildings that seemed to touch the sky. While many architectural books focus on exterior beauty, this book examines each building's unique inner structure. Maps land photos guide the reader through this outdoor architectural museum.