Marina City : The Definitive History of a Chicago Landmark

No other residential building in the United States has a more interesting history than Chicago’s Marina City. Built on unused railroad property by visionaries in the nicotine-and-alcohol-fueled decade of the 1960s, Marina City is a rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches story, with plenty of high points and low points. Adored, then neglected, then brought back to life, Marina City is an official Chicago landmark, a Chicago icon, and recognized worldwide. But typically, only its history in the 1960s is told. But that’s when it was just getting started. Former Marina City resident Steven Dahlman tells the amazing stories of Marina City from the 1950s well into the 21st century, along with an overview of how the Chicago Fire of 1871 inspired daring architecture such as Marina City, culminating with Nik Wallenda’s wire walk to Marina City and between its towers in 2014. Filled with original photography and historical images and artifacts, Marina City is the definitive history of this iconic Chicago landmark. 

No other residential building in the United States has a more interesting history than Chicago’s Marina City. Built on unused railroad property by visionaries in the nicotine-and-alcohol-fueled decade of the 1960s, Marina City is a rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches story, with plenty of high points and low points. Adored, then neglected, then brought back to life, Marina City is an official Chicago landmark, a Chicago icon, and recognized worldwide. But typically, only its history in the 1960s is told. But that’s when it was just getting started. 

Former Marina City resident Steven Dahlman tells the amazing stories of Marina City from the 1950s well into the 21st century, along with an overview of how the Chicago Fire of 1871 inspired daring architecture such as Marina City, culminating with Nik Wallenda’s wire walk to Marina City and between its towers in 2014. Filled with original photography and historical images and artifacts, Marina City is the definitive history of this iconic Chicago landmark.