South Loop Printing House District

The South Loop Printing House District is a historic area in Chicago with 28 buildings designed with tall structures and large windows. These windows were originally built to let natural light in for printing work, and they still define how the area looks today.

The district grew into the center of Midwest printing from 1880 to 1930, when printing was a major industry. Being close to Dearborn Station made it easy for companies to ship their work to other cities.

The buildings here show how printing companies shaped their work spaces to match what they needed. The tall facades with large windows became a defining part of this neighborhood's identity and how people experienced the area.

The district sits between Ida B. Wells and Polk Street and is easy to walk through. You can see the old facades clearly from the street and get a good feel for how the printing companies set up their buildings.

The narrow property lots in this area led to an unusual building style: very thin, tall buildings made specifically for printing companies. This vertical design was a creative solution to get enough work space even though the ground area was small.

Location: Illinois

GPS coordinates: 41.87389,-87.63083

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:44