Fine Arts Building

Designed by Solon B. Beman, this building opened in 1885 as a showroom and factory for the Studebaker company. Back then, it made a variety of horse drawn vehicles. (An early Studebaker covered wagon is at the Museum of Science and Industry.) After Studebaker moved out, the arts moved in, and the building became known as the "Carnegie Hall" of Chicago. The first floor provided a theater space, while the rest of the building housed offices of drama and music teachers. L. Frank Baum (the writer of "The Wizard of Oz"), Lorado Taft and Frank Lloyd Wright all had studios here. Today, the arts live on, and many of the offices remain dedicated to music.