How Chicago Could Have Become a "Paris on the Prairie"

The 19th century saw Chicago go from a patch of wilderness on the American frontier, to a metropolis of over 1.6 million inhabitants. Although impressive, this rapid growth would prove problematic for the city, as it struggled to provide adequate infrastructure and public space. To adress this, local architect Daniel Burnham was asked to create a comprehensive plan for Chicago's development. In it, he envisioned a city of grand plazas, monumental civic buildings, and streets seemingly radiating into infinity - a Paris on the prairie.
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"Mendelssohn: Six Songs, Op.34 - 4. Suleika"
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"String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44 No. 1: III. Andante espressivo ma con moto"
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"Rêverie au bord de la mer, WoO"
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[@markjosephbantayan3479]

Burnham is literally the "you don't know what you're missing" guy of architecture and city planning. Today thousands of people lament the ruin of Manila because his plans were abandoned after WW2.

[@moneyivo7669]

Why were his plan’s abandoned?

[@markjosephbantayan3479]

@@moneyivo7669 World War 2 happened. Nobody had money for anything.

[@raphgalban2007]

plus the streets just… disappeared

[@ROBOHOLIC1]

@@raphgalban2007 which would have been the perfect opportunity to rebuild it. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, instead of an urban dystopia like it is now.

[@raphgalban2007]

@@ROBOHOLIC1 You’re correct. The City Beautiful project could have happened if we were able to fix the stuff that the Japanese destroyed. But we didn’t fix it quick enough to prioritise that project. TLDR: The Japanese screwed us over, hard.

[@JonathanDGrim]

Saddened when I saw the overlay of the highway interchange over what could have been. People wonder why European cities are so nice and enjoyable, this is it! Design cities based on people, not cars!

[@letheas6175]

Hi! It seems you know all about it, that is indeed key fact to improving city livability. You might find the channel ''not just bikes'' interesting. It's focused mostly on the Netherlands, but also some other European nations. It's from the perspective of someone who lived in the US and Canada, and his videos are really great at describing how and why cities that aren't car-centric are better.

[@wolverineeagle]

The US is a huge country. Western Europe is half the size of the US. US cities European cities are also much older. For most of their existence they had horse and foot traffic. US cities being much younger and more space to work with would obviously not look the same. Geography and history are really important factors when comparing US and European cities.

[@letheas6175]

@@wolverineeagle They are important factors but not the most important. Many European countries such as the one I live in: The Netherlands. Have had to make choices, many key points in history could have made it so that it would be pretty much identical to the US (except for the ugly grid patterns, which are also horrible from a mobility viewpoint) for example Amsterdam as we know it would be pretty much unrecognizable with huge highways and a car-centric society in mind. But those nations or cities, along with a few outside of Europe (Portland for example as we're being taught during my mobility study) have made the decision to preserve certain things and to provide liveable space. Either through Transit-Oriented Development, which is an excellent way of reducing car dependency, to increasing traffic calming measures, or simply changing laws. About that, let me talk about zoning laws. This is also one of the biggest differences. Here in the Netherlands, as is for most of western Europe, zoning laws aren't that strict. Shopping areas aren't just assigned to huge mall/shop areas, usually outside of the city centers, no, they're usually mixed. It's extremely uncommon in the Netherlands to live in a neighborhood that is say 10 mins walking away from a shop. This increases walkability, decreases the need for cars, and is generally higher in value (and because of the increase of people on the street, it's safer) Yes, the US is bigger, but that's entirely not the point. The thing is really the way of thinking, the culture. You could implement some of the things we do over here, and some cities (with succes) do, but that doesn't change the national government or laws, it doesn't change the way people view certain ways of traveling. it doesn't incite investment or innovativeness. The biggest issue isn't history either as is clear by now. There's this huge province we have here, the biggest artificial island in the world actually, and it's completely reclaimed from the sea in the 1950-1970's, you'd expect it to be car-centric but no, it's not. There are cars, but also seperate bicycle paths, with their own infrastructure and own bridges, there's a hirarchy in road structure and trains to connect places. My point is, even new areas are made in a different way with a strong focus on sustainability, liveability and durability. It's actually key focus over here besides.. you know, living below sea level (or maybe because of it)

[@guidedmeditation2396]

Organized crime and Democrat policies have kept all of America from being better.

[@italianboyz12345]

The homogenous societies of Europe and the demographics make it pretty nice too.

[@rixille]

That would have been one hell of a city judging by the artwork.

[@danielmoreno-gama5973]

Yup sadly the depression crushed everyone’s dreams like always

[@jeffburdick869]

Much of this did happen. IMO, the most important parts did, such as the lakeshore and boulevards.

[@robertwright4906]

@@jeffburdick869 The lakeshore parks are the best feature of Chicago IMO. I really like the city and it was cool to see where the good ideas came from. New York to me feels claustrophobic and gritty, but Chicago feels much more Open

[@TheOtherOne122]

That, and automobile lobbying for more roads everywhere

[@beargrills1290]

I take it you've never been to the Chi. It's one hell of a city. Just gorgeous and if the creator of this video had actually been to Chicago he probably wouldn't have created this video.

[@mickel1634]

i'll just have to live with telling myself that this city exists in an alternate universe...

[@SportZone7780]

It does. Barcelona google it, you welcome.

[@Isphanian]

@@SportZone7780 LOL

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@SportZone7780 Wow, just… sad.

[@memezoffuckery3207]

That city got nuked in the war

[@MorbSquad420]

We could just tear down Chicago & build it like this

[@naturalcambion3747]

The world lost its magic when architecture became concrete boxes and asphalt roads.

[@xavier01110]

You mean America.

[@naturalcambion3747]

@@xavier01110 Everywhere.

[@texaswunderkind]

People: "I want beautiful architecture to come back." Builders: "It will cost three times as much." People: "Just build the ugly concrete box."

[@egoxagony4623]

@@texaswunderkind why would it cost more, genuine question

[@BoricuaKelfa]

@@egoxagony4623 because their lazy assess have to put in effort

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Daniel Burnham also designed a plan for Manila, to make it the “Paris of the Orient”. Then again, never fully implemented, cars rule the streets there as well.

[@danielmoreno-gama5973]

Definitely very sad not only is it no longer as beautiful it’s rejection in favor of the automobile industry to supply transit lead to mass amounts of carbon getting produced to this day and is one of the reasons why Manila looks so polluted truly was a visionary and he is kinda getting me to look into architecture

[@bakaheavyindustries4836]

its not automotive industry killed its WW2. the favor and lobbying by automotive industry began in late 1940s even its implemented still shit and polluted because when Philippine got independence from USA and reconstruction of Manila after the brutal Battle of Manila became the most devastated cities alongside Berlin and Warsaw. the reconstruction is very decentralized compared to Tokyo which US is focused and McArthur offered the reconstruction its rejected the government at time because there is new capital at that time.

[@sumdude4281]

Japanese during WWII had a bit to do with that.

[@bmona7550]

Manila got the short end of the stick in reconstruction even tho it's the 2nd most heavily bombed city in WWII

[@awonoto]

Haussman needed Napoleon III. Napoleon III needed Haussman. Burnham didn't have a Napoleon III.

[@schimenykrikets9692]

Architect: This spot will be where we build the 8th wonder of the world City: Freeway intersection

[@lmnop29]

As a native Chicagoan, I feel that Chicago is beautiful as it is. However, it would've been nice to see this come to fruition. ESPECIALLY the railways..😩

[@zeanamush]

We did consolidate the Railways a lot. Considering how much if it goes to Union and Olgilvie which are right next to each other.

[@cyberpimp29]

They call it Chiraq for a reason...

[@zeanamush]

@@cyberpimp29 Yes mostly because of spike in regional violence in 2016.

[@sullivandmitry1416]

How could you say that the blocks of tall glass buildings and a sway of gigantic proportions of violence as “beautiful.”

[@hallo754]

@@cyberpimp29 no one calls it chiraq except for people outside of the city who think people call it chiraq

[@dankthrone6668]

All of this planning and we got a fucking bean

[@marselo5332]

lmao

[@Fermifire]

Don't forget corruption and gangsters. lol

[@EdhellenCuar]

@@Fermifire you mean capitalism

[@fite-4-ever876]

we could still have the bean

[@marselo5332]

The Hypothetical City could’ve had a Eiffel Bean

[@someguy2594]

It almost seems like the world has lost its magic. Nobody thinks this way anymore.

[@slaturwinters1828]

life feels worthless now, there's no magic anymore.

[@stratdaddy]

@@slaturwinters1828 You’re just not looking

[@trollololololololo1173]

@@stratdaddy Not really, here in Europe its the same....no one build anymore such Buildings

[@nukebloc]

all of the hard work of our forefathers have been handed to savages with no reason to care about local history or beauty

[@moh.bs10]

I do but who cares about me

[@MrCtsSteve]

Detroit was once called the Paris of the Midwest. This was the later part of the 1950s early 60s . We'll we all know what happened to Detroit . There's still some incredible architecture there and history. Yes Chicago is incredible.

[@NPC-vq3cl]

well*

[@ihazplawe2503]

@@NPC-vq3cl Do you sell items NPC #2302?

[@Christoph-sd3zi]

Chicago is incredible if you visit for a week or so - to live there is another story.

[@royaviles5730]

@@Christoph-sd3zi Nope still incredible. I love Chicago 😎 being downtown gets me pumped everytime and it’s crazy how you can be passing places where actors acted from movies or tv shows. lots of cultural places historic monuments

[@jasonmaguire7552]

Chicago is great except for all the crazy trump supporters doing hate crimes at 2 o'clock in the morning

[@peterbudko1398]

Once again, an incredibly interesting and high quality video. Hopefully the algorithm will pick you up soon, because you deserve more views than this.

[@cottontheeastercottontailr265]

Algorithm picked him up

[@Ihadtochangethisusername]

@@cottontheeastercottontailr265 that it did

[@jp-kf8sb]

@@cottontheeastercottontailr265 yep

[@BrYAn-uu6nm]

It did.

[@vladiiidracula235]

@Baylor Drew fuck off

[@thewaywardpoet]

It saddens me greatly that Burnham's vision never came to fruition. If it had, then, my God, Chicago would be THE most beautiful (to say nothing of monumental) city in America, bar none. You noted the Hausmann influence on the street layout, which obviously calls Paris to mind, but I even see inspiration from Rome and (in regards specifically to the harbor) even Carthage. I'm a firm believer in the Multiverse Theory and I'd like to think that, in a parallel universe or alternate dimension, this Chicago exists. Those designs are simply stunning.

[@steveniswho9254]

Love it, I wish the plan would've been fully implemented, sad to see our cities look like shitholes. Very awful that they put a fucking intersection where Burnam's civic center was supposed to go.

[@skeptical5727]

I'm with you! I would have love to see architecture like this, my patriotism would have been sky rocketing through the roof by now. Architecture brings culture and brings humanity to our lives NOT concrete towers.

[@danielmoreno-gama5973]

@@skeptical5727 sadly Americans have opted for libertarian patriotism where if you move a fucking brick your label’s as a commie it’s sad the Republicans are literally doing the reject humanity return to monkey meme

[@KanyeTheGayFish69]

@@danielmoreno-gama5973 America was founded on libertarianism you hateful leftist pile of shit

[@draco_1876]

@@danielmoreno-gama5973 libertarianism is not to blame

[@blllllllllllllllllllrlrlrl7059]

@@danielmoreno-gama5973 you libtards have to blame everything on Republicans, don't you?

[@kreaturen]

Noone: Burnham: How would you like to live in a fabulously grand mausoleum that stretches into infinity?

[@pahwraith]

It looks like speers plans of berlin. Hard pass. As a lifelong chicagoan.

[@beepbop6542]

@@pahwraith ? Im not from Chicago but Speers plan and this Chicago plan seem great.

[@kreaturen]

Also... Liberace: Yes! YES!!! Why nobody ask *moi*?!???

[@artdecotimes2942]

@@pahwraith lifelong of how long? 20 years? You haven't a fig newton idea of the city, only its modern characteristics that warp what it once was.

[@pahwraith]

@@artdecotimes2942 i was born in the 80s lol. Try again. Also i grew up in the city not the burbs taking the cta everyday. Trust me. I know the city.

[@johnmanno2052]

I'm from Chicago, city proper, born and raised. I soooooooooo wish that this plan had been carried out!!!!!! Thank you for posting this!! Excellent work!

[@rajavlitra]

I'll give him credit, he deserved that park in baguio named after him. This is CRISPY

[@gpaderx6105]

are you also filipino? I really hope the manila plan was made.. so sad

[@rajavlitra]

@@gpaderx6105 ok lang me national museum naman e

[@gpaderx6105]

@@rajavlitra atleast nasunod kahit konti

[@raielalvaro]

As seen in the video, Daniel Burnham also had an urban plan for Manila and Baguio City during the American occupation however, these plans didn't came into fruition, and only a segment was completed (Manila Bay Area, Rizal Park) thus the hodge podge of buildings and structures you can see in Metro Manila today.

[@Max-kd2gh]

As a Chicago native, it’s better than a lot of other cities I’ve visited in America. We still have lots of parks and downtown is a nice mix of city and nature. Still I kinda hate this city now

[@Chris-jq4ge]

Yeah, its really gone downhill the past decade. Massive political changes are needed to fix it but thatll never happen.

[@Sphere723]

Chicago is still the most beautiful of the great US cities.

[@TheSpecialJ11]

@@Chris-jq4ge Chicago has had a lot of ups and downs, but the corruption here is so deeply ingrained in the political culture (from its inception, really) I can't see a timeline in our lifetimes where your tax dollars actually do something. The past decade hasn't been so great, but neither were the preceding three either when compared to Chicago of the 50s and 60s, when the city could afford to be corrupt and still get stuff done. Now all the manufacturing is overseas and millions of dollars are wasted on suburban infrastructure that is way more expensive than traditional development, and the high taxes required to keep up this infrastructure are instead finding their way to the pockets of Mike Madigan and Co.

[@eriklakeland3857]

My favorite thing about Chicago is the variety of the housing stock. Only 25% of its housing is single-family homes which is far far lower than most US cities (my city is 60% s-f homes). Love all the duplexes, townhomes, small apartments of Chicago for how they make the city more affordable and foster the dense, vibrant and unique neighborhoods. Much of my city even though it has the address of the core city feels like a giant suburb thanks to the dominance of single-family homes. I’d love to see Chicago build an outer loop elevated train line. It’s important for adapting to a post-COVID world where our polycentric cities, like Chicago, will better respond to office consolidation downtown. We need to directly link medical centers, universities, and other regional hubs without forcing riders to go downtown, embracing this polycentricity. Back in the early 2000s, the CTA studied a circular line or outer loop, but that vision needs to be discussed again in this pivotal time.

[@microbios8586]

Chicago is miles ahead of nearly all US cities. I find Chicago inspiring, as an example of what is possible in the US. It's a jewel.

[@VLCBK]

I just love how the old skyscrapers looked like, with so many ornaments well placed and such beauty

[@liamwilcox641]

This video makes me sad knowing that we don't have a city like this :-(

[@goldenrepublic6848]

Every American city should have have this much thought and detail put into them.

[@notsure8550]

I'm actually glad some of his stuff did not get implemented, like that terrible idea of diagonal city streets everywhere.

[@mirzaaljic]

@@notsure8550 Yeah its awesome to see spaghetti highways everywhere instead.

[@dabage553]

Chicago, even not fully implementing Burnham's plan is still a beautiful city with the Lakefront and the Mag Mile. The city thankfully picked up a lot of his ideas and still continues to do so.

[@cyberpimp29]

Chiraq

[@dancastellano3127]

Stunning

[@mauricehopes9105]

The burhnam plan while not completely carried out is one of the great guiding principals for the city. Even today the lake front, navy pier, and tons of other parts still shape the city.

[@TheSpecialJ11]

Seems like most of everyone's favorite parts of the city are the parts in line with the Burnham Plan.

[@stoggafllik]

Look at Singapore,a lot of aspects from the Burnham plan was implemented there.

[@coyotelong4349]

“Paris on the Prairie”? Wouldn’t that be a “Prairis”?

[@Game_Hero]

bud dum tss

[@MasonGreenWeed]

How you'd be pronounce it? With s or without s

[@BoricuaKelfa]

@@MasonGreenWeed you would pronounce it "prayer-is"

[@R1project0]

where has this kind of thinking gone? at least the past 80 years have been so depressing in terms of architecture and urban development.

[@R1project0]

@Quantum Passport haha I did not expect a proper answer but thanks dude, very insightful! Which makes me want to ask you, any takes on Europe? I do get that for the US and their context, but over here we didn't really jump on that same train, yet we still have horrible buildings from the same time period, I do get the cost analysis point, but at least here in the UK, they still use bricks and wood a lot but still make ugly looking buildings xD. To further my point, luckily in my hometown, new developments needed to be stylistically in line with early 20th and 19th century buildings, they are clearly made of different materials and are nowhere close to as as decorated as the originals, but they are way prettier than the disgusting 1970s apartment blocks that surround them! which I feel suggests you can actually have both functionality and aesthetics. Which is what I am thinking of when I wonder "where has this thinking gone?", as in, when did we decide we had to decouple functionality from beauty in architecture? I apologise for the short essay haha

[@mynillion]

A good chunk of it also probably has to do with everything being built up to the extent that it is already, you can't exactly go through and replan the entire street layout of a city of millions. Too many different owners, too many people, and too expensive. European cities that were more affected by WWII for example look a lot similar to American cities because a lot of them were almost completely leveled. A lot of it comes down to cost, just like how it's too expensive to redo built up American cities, there wasn't really a point redoing already built up European cities, except for in the cases where they were reduced to rubble.

[@ultrapro167]

Bauhaus school of architecture in Weimar Germany in 1930s through today. Go down the rabbit hole

[@Hhhh22222-w]

You can thank cars.

[@johnperic6860]

Leftism and the autoindustry.

[@NGMonocrom]

I wish his plan was adopted in full. An absolutely beautiful vision of the future that sadly never was.

[@Vaprous]

Man... whenever I see fellow Americans claim that our cities couldn't ever be like Paris because "we are too young and our cities were built for the car" ... The car as we know it was invented in the 1908 and didn't become popular until the 1920s. The USA has been functionally independent since 1776 i.e 244 years, and that means that all major cities of the USA that already existed by 1920 were at least two hundred years old, and some cities are far older, dating back to the original start of English colonization in the New World (Boston is 391 years old for instance); well before the contemporary car had popularity in America as a mode of transportation, cities in the US were already centuries old. Rebuilding of American cities to accommodate motor vehicles didn't happen until the *1950s*. By all accounts, all major cities in the USA were built before the car, and were only later adapted to the car in the last 70-90 years. It is a blatant revision of history to suggest otherwise is silly. American cities were built for foot traffic and horse carriage, and inner-city light rail systems like trams. There's a plethora of evidence to this fact that's freely available. Photos *and* film; paintings, writings. You don't even need to look at older cities; *newer* cities in places like Japan, Korea or China are considerably more walkable and less car dependant, and these cities were *definitely* only recently constructed in the last 70 years; yet aren't as shit as their older American counterparts. My point is this is an *excuse* made in ignorance for why American cities suck; one Americans use to pretend like they couldn't have better if they tried.

[@sharronneedles6721]

Those cities may have already existed, but we must remember that they were absolutely BULLDOSED to build highways and roads and intersections. You make a good point, it's just not true.

[@Vaprous]

@@sharronneedles6721 > they were absolutely BULLDOSED to build highways and roads and intersections. ...in the 50s and 60s, and 70s. There are people people alive today before the first highway was even built in the USA. There are people still alive who grew up when many of the first ones are still new. Most high ways are less than 70 years old. The point that our cities weren't rebuilt for cars until very recently, very much still stands.

[@sharronneedles6721]

@@Vaprous it doesn't matter if people were alive before then. Example: if an apartment building was built with 13 floors, and it was torn down untill there were only 2 floors; it doesn't matter how old the people were who lived in it- its demolished. Once something is demolished its gone, and it doesn't matter how many people may have a memory of it.

[@xXelitegpXx]

This is why In Europe, cars are not allowed into or in some cases even near the town squares.

[@robertwright4906]

Ive always loved Chicago, in fact its probably my Favorite American city that I've been to. Its fascinating to see where the parts I loved came from, the Lakeshore parks really are the best thing. Imagine what would have been if the whole plan had been used. Still, the best parts of the city draw inspiration from the plan. What a visionary design!

[@rosshauler7688]

Michigan avenue sorta has these old vibes still

[@mirzaaljic]

This video makes me feel both nice and pissed off at the same time.

[@ayanna6327]

As a Chicagoan I am sick to my stomach seeing this. This would have been very lovely to have in our city, and downtown could have still been downtown.

[@MarkVinewood]

I wish so deerly that the civic centre had been built. It has such a breathtaking and humbling look to it. A gargantuan monolith from one perspective but yet so stylish and elegant from the other.

[@MrDude826]

What? Why din't they go with it!? Chicago would have been so beautiful....soo sad...

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

The usual reasons, politics and money.

[@skeptical5727]

@@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164 :(

[@angelbonilla2255]

Still is a beautiful city

[@JuaniPodrido]

@@angelbonilla2255 with nothing to do besides a mirror bean, for a city it's size it lacks.

[@danielmoreno-gama5973]

It’s because Americans hate when there government dose anything

[@Dan-xt7sv]

The automobile and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race

[@reesehendricksen269]

Yeah, having a world that doesn’t conform to my standard of beauty is worse than improving the independence and livelihood of billions.

[@Dan-xt7sv]

@@reesehendricksen269 Yes.

[@sharronneedles6721]

@@reesehendricksen269 yes because bulldozing a city to build a freeway = independence. The problem is you dear.

[@JimmyJazz332]

3:52 , Then the city builds a highway through it removing it from any form of public recreation outside of driving quickly on it.

[@BigSteak]

Thank you for covering the wonderful city of Chicago!

[@cyberpimp29]

Chiraq

[@orlando1a1]

Fascinating and insightful. Thank you.

[@Lukas-qf2uh]

Could have? It is. Chicago is easily the prettiest city in the US, probably all of the America's, and one of the most beautiful in the world.

[@Heisenberg882]

It's full of soulless, modern architecture

[@Lukas-qf2uh]

@@Heisenberg882 I can understand not liking skyscrapers and modern architecture, but Chicago has the best modern architecture hands down. Lots of very inventive styles and technique. You sound like you're applying the valid real criticisms of other modern skylines (like New York) to Chicago.

[@thefrub]

Detroit could do this now. Those big swaths of empty land that used to be homes, should be a city planner's wet dream

[@MrCtsSteve]

I've thought about that as well ..you look at city shots from 50-60yrs back compared to today ...its mind blowing .

[@Christoph-sd3zi]

You still have to deal with the B****s

[@dickjohnson9582]

@@Christoph-sd3zi Lmaooo N-words in paris

[@uzairakram899]

This channel is a hidden gem

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Impressive channel. I think the algorythm is finally pushing you up!

[@kingsandthings]

Yeah, the KZbin gods have been benevolent recently :)

[@mygetawayart]

there's a reason why these architects took inspiration from european cities time and time again.

[@KanyeTheGayFish69]

Because Europeans have an inflated egotistical sense of self importance and arrogance?

[@axo6604]

@@KanyeTheGayFish69 says american

[@abelardo-mtnmssnxx]

It could have been that. Instead it is a succession of "copy an paste" suburbs, ghettos, and downtown Chicago is full of parking lot buildings and soulless skyscrapers.

[@DD-ws6cu]

This is the most inaccurate depiction of Chicago I have ever heard.

[@thomasgeschke9553]

What are you on about? Chicago is anything but soulless. It was a forerunner in the development of skyscrapers, and is known partially for it's beautiful, iconic skyline. Not to mention, its suburbs vary widely. There are poorer and richer areas, sure, but take a drive down Sheridan Road and tell me the North Shore suburbs are "copy and paste." No doubt, the city retains high levels of segregation and a high crime rate in poor neighborhoods. However, I don't think the complex issues Chicago faces make the city into some urban hellscape. Especially when taking into account that there are plenty of cities in the US with higher per capita murder rate. Chicago has its problems, for sure, but remains a diverse, fascinating place.

[@sm3675]

@@thomasgeschke9553 I wouldn't say "souless", but for it's history and size, it is a city that is hidden from pop-culture.

[@thomasgeschke9553]

@@sm3675 How has it been hidden from pop culture? Plenty of films and TV shows have been/are set there. Many music tours go through the city. And let’s not forget how big Lollapalooza is as a festival. There’s plenty of tourism in the summer. It has some world class museums. I don’t really know what you mean by hidden.

[@ImpeRiaLismus]

Incredible beautiful! I hope people will value beauty again one day.

[@ryelundy2024]

The city if Saskatoon, Saskatchewan up here in Canada is known as the "Paris of the Prairies".

[@GavinMichaels]

That’s ironic, considering Canada already has Montreal and Quebec City for that 😅

[@ryelundy2024]

@@GavinMichaels Not really considering Montreal and Quebec are nowhere fucking close to the Prairie.

[@p.nguyen8136]

Saskatoon does not look bad, but "Paris on the Prairie" is quite an exaggeration lol.

[@maYTeus]

Wow KZbin algo is wild. This video is 2 years old and it's been at the top of my recommended for almost 2 weeks. It's an inspiring video non the less

[@Sihengli]

Incredible work! keep at it! the quality of a work alone justifies its creation, applause is the day of rest which follows.

[@bionity4749]

Meanwhile in Paris, it's a constant fight to preserve the shape of the city against greedy contractors.

[@heliosapollyon4391]

That is exactly how cities should be designed

[@popzstudios6358]

I would love to see a video like this on Buffalo, NY in the future.

[@anxietywave8735]

I wanna visit the alternate universe where this Chicago exists.

[@dougfowler1368]

Perhaps apropos of nothing, but this reminds me of my grandma telling of a train trip to Chicago they took in 1933 and the famous large aquarium was already there. So obviously there had been a fair amount of construction, even with an eye toward tourism, in the twenties. (and no they weren't rich, that's why this vacation was so memorable. In fact my great grandpa lost his job early the next year and needed help to save the family house, which he got from an aunt of his.) My grandpa, This Woman's husband, also remembers a layover about 10 years later when he was coming home from the military and

[@dougfowler1368]

Sorry, typing on my tablet and hit returned too fast. He spoke of how Lively the Theater District was even back then, and the fact that he watched the musical Oklahoma during his layover.

[@jaftem2x]

You should do a video on Los Angeles' park system that could have been. LA could have had an emerald-necklace type park system that would span the entire basin, but was shut down by city officials when they found out the plan would include a park police system that would rival their authority.

[@realtissaye]

I love how you link the songs in the description mate

[@charlesdarwin7253]

Seeing the old Chicago street plans and the Chicago skyline today it really does look like the most beautiful city in the world. Living in Toronto I'm always comparing my city with theirs, and I'm jealous. At least I feel jealous until I look at the southside, where it starts to look identical to Detroit, and until I look at the suburbs, where it starts to look like a virus spreading people further and further into the abyss.

[@bademantil6046]

If you take a look at "The Slaughter of Cities" from an author E Michael Jones, you might get an insight about rapid deterioration of great industial cities of the North as a result of social engineering at play.

[@spaghettigod43]

Their Southside used to be beautiful iirc. Many buildings still exist down there with beautiful classical facades. They're just not maintained.

[@charlesdarwin7253]

@@spaghettigod43 I do find their chimneys quite beautiful too, but its besides the point when the locals are living in subsidized housing and the neighbourhoods arent maintained.

[@glaxxico907]

I'd say south side still looks better than Detroit in most parts.

[@earthandwind820]

A lot of the Chicago suburbs are very cookie cutter and not interesting. If you look at suburbs from other cities, they’re more interesting. There are some exceptions though: towns like Evanston & Oak Park don’t feel cookie cutter. The south side has a lot of beautiful buildings, but there’s a lot of poverty, so they’re not really maintained. Neighborhoods like Wicker Park, Logan Square, Lincoln Park have a lot of outstanding examples of maintained architecture. I’ve never been to Detroit or Toronto, so I can’t really compare it. I know I lived in Milwaukee, WI for college and even the south side of Chicago was less shocking than Milwaukee and Milwaukee doesn’t have half as bad of a reputation as Detroit or the south side.

[@renov_lyrics]

Burnham's Manila masterplan can still be seen today. In fact, few of the masterplan's buildings is still standing upto this day.

[@thwb4661]

Burnham's Manila plan was 20-50% laid out, it's most obvious in the Ermita and Malate districts. However, the farther you go from the downtown area, the less obvious it gets, especially the ones near the border to Quezon City because Burnham's Manila plan was shelved to prioritize creating and designing what soon to be, Quezon City, during the 1930s. The worse thing though, is WW2 ruined the pre-war structures in Manila, and most were never rebuilt again.

[@tyler6636]

this deserves a lot more views!!

[@sambulleit6191]

Honestly, I live in Chicago and if you wanna see that civic center all you gotta do is go to the Bahai House of Worship lmao

[@TheDavidRJ]

It's not in Chicago proper.

[@randombystander5324]

This would have been the most beautiful city ever to be bulldozed for the car.

[@traceford4904]

America doesn't exactly make beautiful cities like some of the ones in Europe. A Parisian-esque city here in the states would have been pretty cool.

[@pahwraith]

Washington dc.

[@reesehendricksen269]

The streets of Paris were designed so the government could kill protesters, that is not culture, it is barbaric.

[@traceford4904]

@@reesehendricksen269 Who'da thought there'd be beauty in Barbarianism lmao.

[@kbtzpictures]

This kind of reform happened in Rio de Janeiro too. In 1922 the city hosted an international exposition, celebrating the 100 years of independence, and received a series of reforms, to replace its former colonial appearance with brand new ecletic buildings and large avenues. It was called "Paris à Beira Mar" wich means Paris by the Sea.

[@seybertooth9282]

Could Chicago have become "Paris on the Prairie"? No. To become Paris anywhere you'd need lots and lots of something that is in short supply in the US: culture.

[@reesehendricksen269]

You know the streets of Paris were designed so cannons could mow down people uprisings right? Culture indeed.

[@mitonaarea5856]

Meh the US has culture. The problem is neoliberalism which killed every aspect of US culture

[@crash_cris7602]

Thanks again YT Algorithm, finally picked you up! Really interesting video!

[@romanr.301]

I love my city 💛 but while it does have one of the best and most extensive public transit networks in the US (which is saying a lot about the state of public transit in American cities), I wish there were even more means of transit. Something like the Vienna system of public transit; trains, trams, and buses all working in a highly efficient and extensive network. Also, transit systems that connect Chicago more with its outlying suburbs would be great in integrating the city and making it more accessible. I also think parks and public beautification, besides just aesthetics, can actually provide opportunities for communities to really take pride in their residences and could help with tourism and even crime somewhat, even if only marginally

[@garretphegley8796]

We could've had the Paris of the Prarie... But we went with Chiraq

[@pandorski35000]

at first, i thought you were talking about Chirac, an ex président of ours and then discovered what it meant (chicago+irak), always that weapons problem, you have to adress that by the law, even the constitution

[@maddog5284]

@@pandorski35000 weapons are not the problem as much as poor uneducated youth who idolise rap that talks about gang culture and crime instead of idolising people of merit. And let's not forget the all the family issues and coruption with is the city and there family's. Banning guns or banning knifes will never solve the issues.

[@pandorski35000]

@@maddog5284 I'm sure we will not agree on that and it's a possibility i accept, but for example in Europe, weapons are not easily accessible, morality : we have almost no casualties to deplore, when bad and/or stupid people want to use them, they just can't or illegaly and then they know what they're exposed to, so i really think the question of accesibility to weapons is at the contrary central

[@Ares_gaming_117]

@@pandorski35000 No Switzerland has more weapons per person than us. We have a bad gang problem; guns are just the tool.

[@pandorski35000]

@@Ares_gaming_117 you know that it's due to the fact of the military service and men keep their weapons home, right ? they don"t buy them like burgers, it's a national duty

[@Lucky-sh1dm]

lollapalooza 2018 on the Friday of that weekend I tripped off a pretty decent acid dose and walking around the city gazing at the architecture was so god damn tremendous

[@bobbyswanson3498]

Chicago would be much more interesting if it was designed to feel like a European city

[@nathan_agnew]

My grandfather Charles J Mulligan was a Chicago sculptor from the Columbian Exposition, he worked with the Chicago Beautiful movement.

[@devinbutler3271]

I currently live Chicago and loves it’s beauty however I wish Chicago had a city like this

[@TheLiamster]

I really wish this project was built in it’s entirety

[@austinshaf799]

“The Devil in the White City” is a great book about this

[@cyberpimp29]

Best comment winner

[@mumblerocks77]

The diagonal streets called for at 4:52 are the wave we need to still be on. The Grid is way too oppressive and large blocks aren't as walkable.

[@knockshinnoch1950]

Fascinating. This would be a superb project to build the proposed plan in Cities Skylines City Builder/ Simulation game

[@Lachausis]

If you want to be informed, stop watching TV. Just seek out little gems like this. Reminds me of the old time docus, where facts were presented in a academic manner.

[@CommonContentArchive]

I don't think anyone under 40 watches TV nowadays, so your wish is coming true

[@Lachausis]

@@CommonContentArchive instead they are now watching internet influencers and media shorts, and leeching off the twitter BS. Everything has been compromised.

[@leonardkrol2600]

What Chicago needs to do is to rebuild Miegs Field and arrest the crooks that destroyed it. An airport on a lakefront part was part of the Burham plan.

[@IsaacSmelcZhan]

David Burnham is one of my favorite architects.

[@Konrad_Festung]

The World That Should Have Been.

[@cunatoo]

man, i love ur videos! keep up the great work!

[@Slangh]

The lack of attention this plan had to social issues was nothing compared to how the highway system eventually made them many times worse by tearing entire neighbourhoods apart.

[@Demosthenes409]

America as a whole could be so much better than what it is right now

[@unclesam5230]

A city fit for an emperor of America.

[@mbathroom1]

Hey its Micah. I had no idea you watched kings and things

[@unclesam5230]

@@mbathroom1 yes I do it’s very good content

[@catcici6720]

We just need a competent mayor and guverner.

[@MasonGreenWeed]

Emperor Norton seat is in San Francisco

[@SamuelKristopher]

First time seeing this channel in my recommendeds - definitely did not disappoint. Clear, succinct, great visuals relevant to the information, nothing superfluous. In the words of wise old man, "We will watch your career with great interest."

[@mushmush4980]

Guess I'll have to live the rest of my life wondering about the alternate reality where Chicago has positive connotations

[@CommonContentArchive]

Don't base your reality on memes

[@NonSequitur404]

Great video, and thanks for providing such high quality plans and drawings. Really nice to see them.

[@bartolomeestebanmurillo4459]

Interesting to imagine what could have been, all the plans that were never implemented. I suppose in some alternate reality, these cities would look a lot different.

[@craigkdillon]

I am glad we didn't build more diagonal streets. They are inefficient, and interrupt traffic flow. They interfere with the timing of traffic lights. BTW -- the diagonal streets that Chicago has have nothing to do with Burnham or his plan. Lake street, Milwaukee, Elston, and Ogden were all Indian trails or wagon trails that predate the founding of Chicago.

[@CastleBomb44]

Interesting to know about those Indian trails.. I'll need to read about that more

[@craigkdillon]

@@CastleBomb44 I don't know where you could learn about them. I learned about them growing up in Chicago. For instance, where Rogers and Caldwell intersected was where the Pottawatomi village of Chief Sauganash once sat. Rogers was also called Indian Boundary because that was the boundary set by an earlier treaty. But, they were expelled from Chicago. The Pottowatomi village was razed, and the area platted out, and homes built there. The neighborhood is now the wealthiest in Chicago, filled with mansions.

[@n0thyng]

IMAGINE THE SEARS TOWER IN PARIS

[@HeavyMxtal]

5:52 broke my heart. I live in Chicago and after seeing that, its like I cant unsee it.

[@wolfmoonrising2280]

I love the video; my question is about the narrative history. Out of all this, the only question I will ask is how did so many millions of people in this time have the means to visit this wonderful City?

[@daveice20]

The same way people have the means to visit places today.. they had a job which paid money, and they used that money to travel via boat or train

[@noradanaher1522]

honestly for all its beauty Chicago works out how it is now. I cant imagine my city without the loop.

[@Username-le4eq]

Just think that theres an alternate universe where this city exist

[@lexingtonconcord8751]

Well done. Thank you Kings and Things!

[@erichtomanek4739]

If only...... Instead of The Windy City, Chicago The Beautiful. and perhaps, Paris, the Chicago of Europe...

[@maximillianpleason568]

Wow! Really great video! Hope to see more urban planning history on the channel!

[@aaronjones8905]

In biology, I was taught that form equals function. But in architecture and design, building for beauty allows any function to occur.

[@h0eera.115]

I like how the way America was growing in the 19th Century (building huge ass dams, linking the country through rail, rapidly growing middle class) is just like China's in the 21st Century, I think both are more or less in the same scale/ equivalents of each other. Chicago's growth from 30K people in 1850 to a metropolis in 1900 reminds me of Shenzhen, which is the fastest growing city ever (as of today). Kind of makes me think if the 22nd Century will be China's century, just like the then-preceding 20th century being America's. Though as for aesthetics, nothing would compare to the beauty of America's industrial 19th Century architecture, it has the charm of old architecture and the practicality of the modern (for the 19th century at least).

[@texaswunderkind]

Maybe after the revolution installs a more democratic system of government. China's biggest problem is its corrupt one-party government.

[@Mr-Prasguerman]

É incrível como o urbanismo avançou tanto E simultâneamente decaiu tanto......

[@Lozo39]

Your channel is so good I love it !

[@kingsandthings]

Thanks a lot :)

[@danesovic7585]

It's still not too late to make it like this

[@redditstop1653]

I like chicago the way it is. It should get more walkable

[@danesovic7585]

@@redditstop1653 Burnham's plan would make it more walkable.

[@redditstop1653]

@@danesovic7585 chicago was very walkable for a long time. We had trams and human size development. But they gutted it out for the car.

[@Dan-xt7sv]

Yes it is

[@glaxxico907]

@@redditstop1653 Still got the L. Though I do wish we will get a circle line. And a tram going down like ogden or madison.

[@alexanderoddest2784]

Fun fact, those 12-14 floor buildings used to be massive back then. Now, they're office buildings or hotels.