Daniel Burnham
Early Life and Education
Daniel Hudson Burnham was born on September 4, 1846, in Henderson, New York. He was the second child of Edwin and Elizabeth Burnham. His family moved to Chicago, Illinois, when he was eight years old. Burnham attended public schools in Chicago and later enrolled at the Chicago Central High School. However, he did not graduate and decided to learn the trade of a builder and architect instead.
Career
Burnham began his career as a draftsman for the architectural firm of Loring & Phipps. He then worked for William Le Baron Jenney, who is often referred to as the "father of the skyscraper". In 1872, Burnham joined the office of Carter, Drake, and Wight, where he met John Wellborn Root. The two formed a partnership in 1873, establishing the architectural firm of Burnham and Root.
Burnham and Root were instrumental in the development of the Chicago School of Architecture, a style characterized by the use of steel-frame buildings with masonry cladding, large plate-glass window areas, and limited exterior ornamentation. The firm designed several iconic buildings, including the Monadnock Building, the Rookery Building, and the Masonic Temple, which was the tallest building in the world at the time of its completion.
Following Root's death in 1891, Burnham took over the firm and renamed it D.H. Burnham & Company. He continued to design significant buildings, including the Flatiron Building in New York City and Union Station in Washington D.C.
The World's Columbian Exposition
In 1893, Burnham served as the Director of Works for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He was responsible for the overall planning and coordination of the fair. The exposition was a major milestone in Burnham's career and had a significant impact on American architecture and urban planning. The fair's layout, known as the White City, was a model of city planning featuring grand boulevards, classical building styles, and lush gardens designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
City Planning
Burnham's experience with the World's Columbian Exposition sparked his interest in city planning. He collaborated with Edward H. Bennett to create the Plan of Chicago, also known as the Burnham Plan, in 1909. This plan proposed many improvements for the city, including a system of parks and boulevards, a civic center, and a commercial center. While not all elements of the plan were implemented, it influenced the development of several cities in the United States.
Personal Life and Death
Burnham married Margaret Sherman, the daughter of a wealthy stockyard executive, in 1876. They had five children together. Burnham died on June 1, 1912, in Heidelberg, Germany, while on a trip to Europe. He was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
Legacy
Burnham's architectural and planning work significantly influenced the development of American cities. His designs combined practicality with aesthetics, creating functional and beautiful urban spaces. His contributions to the field of architecture and city planning are still recognized and studied today.
