The emergence of the skyscraper in the late 19th century fundamentally transformed American architecture. Chicago became the center of innovation after the Great Fire of 1871 created opportunities for large-scale rebuilding, attracting architects such as Louis Sullivan, who coined the phrase “form follows function.”

Sullivan pioneered steel-frame construction, allowing buildings to rise dramatically higher than traditional masonry structures. Early skyscrapers combined structural innovation with decorative detail, establishing a distinctly American architectural form closely associated with urban commerce and technological progress.

Liking this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveMONEY

Time travel through 250 years of American architecture