About this property
The Fine Arts Building, formerly known as the Studebaker Building, is a 10-story edifice at 410 S Michigan Avenue across from Grant Park in Chicago in the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District. It was built for the Studebaker company in 1884–1885 by Solon Spencer Beman, and extensively remodeled in 1898, when Beman removed the building's eighth (top) story and added three new stories. Studebaker constructed the building as a carriage sales and service operation with manufacturing on upper floors. The two granite columns at the main entrance, 3 feet 8 inches (1.12 m) in diameter and 12 feet 10 inches (3.91 m) high, were said to be the largest polished monolithic shafts in the country. The interior features Art Nouveau motifs and murals by artists such as Martha Susan Baker, Frederic Clay Bartlett, Oliver Dennett Grover, Frank Xavier Leyendecker, and Bertha Sophia Menzler-Peyton dating from the 1898 renovation. In the early 20th century, the Kalo Shop and Wilro Shop, firms owned by women and specializing in Arts and Crafts items, were established in the renamed Fine Arts Building. True to its name, it houses artists' lofts, art galleries, theatre, dance and recording studios, interior and web design firms, musical instrument makers, and other businesses associated with the arts. It also holds offices of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, and the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. The Fine Arts Building was designated a Chicago Landmark on June 7, 1978. By 2025, the Fine Arts Building had Chicago's last remaining manually operated elevators, which were being replaced through 2026.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Studebaker Building
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Questions about this property
When was Studebaker Building listed on the National Register?
Studebaker Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1975.
What type of historic resource is Studebaker Building?
Studebaker Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Studebaker Building?
The period of significance for Studebaker Building is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1600.
Can I research the history near Studebaker Building?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Studebaker Building will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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An Aubrey US report for an address near Studebaker Building will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.