Sauganash Hotel, First hotel in Chicago
The Sauganash Hotel was Chicago's first hotel, built in 1831 by Mark Beaubien at Wolf Point where the Chicago River branches meet. The two-story Greek Revival structure with symmetrical windows and bright wooden shutters stood out for its size and style in the developing city.
Founded in 1831, the hotel served as the city's first governmental center, hosting Chicago's first election of town leaders in 1833. The building witnessed the city's early growth before being destroyed by fire in 1851.
The name Sauganash comes from Billy Caldwell, a man of British and Irish heritage who had deep ties to the region. The location served as a gathering place for people of different backgrounds and became a center of early community life.
The site is located at the corner of Lake Street and Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago. The original hotel location is marked as a Chicago Landmark and can be visited as part of walking tours through the historic area.
The hotel briefly housed Chicago's first theater in 1837, with performances in its dining room, before the venue moved on. Just outside, in 1835, Native American tribes performed their last war dance parade before being relocated west of the Mississippi River.
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