Union Stock Yard Gate
Encyclopedia
The Union Stockyard Gate, located on Exchange Avenue at Peoria Street, was the entrance to the famous Union Stock Yards
in Chicago. The gate was designed by John Wellborn Root
of Burnham and Root
around 1875. The work was commissioned by the superintendent of the yards at the time, John B. Sherman. The limestone gate still stands as one of the few reminders of Chicago's past dominance in the meat packing industry
. Over the arch of the gate, Root included a now famous bust of "Sherman," the favorite prize-winning bull
of John B. Sherman. The gate was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on December 27, 1972. It was then designated a National Historic Landmark
on May 29, 1981. The gate was designated an official Chicago Landmark
on February 24, 1972. Directly behind the gate is a memorial statue for Chicago firefighters. The statue is located there because of the Chicago Union Stock Yards Fire
, and around the base are engraved the names of all Chicago firefighters ever killed in the line of duty.
Union Stock Yards
The Union Stock Yard & Transit Co., or The Yards, was the meat packing district in Chicago for over a century starting in 1865. The district was operated by a group of railroad companies that acquired swampland, and turned it to a centralized processing area...
in Chicago. The gate was designed by John Wellborn Root
John Wellborn Root
John Wellborn Root was an American architect who worked out of Chicago with Daniel Burnham. He was one of the founders of the Chicago School style...
of Burnham and Root
Burnham and Root
Burnham and Root was the name of the company that John Wellborn Root and Daniel Hudson Burnham established as one of Chicago's most famous architectural companies of the nineteenth century....
around 1875. The work was commissioned by the superintendent of the yards at the time, John B. Sherman. The limestone gate still stands as one of the few reminders of Chicago's past dominance in the meat packing industry
Meat packing industry
The meat packing industry handles the slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock...
. Over the arch of the gate, Root included a now famous bust of "Sherman," the favorite prize-winning bull
Bull
Bull usually refers to an uncastrated adult male bovine.Bull may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Bull , an original show on the TNT Network* "Bull" , an episode of television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation...
of John B. Sherman. The gate was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on December 27, 1972. It was then designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on May 29, 1981. The gate was designated an official Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark is a designation of the Mayor of Chicago and the Chicago City Council for historic buildings and other sites in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Listed sites are selected after meeting a combination of criteria, including historical, economic, architectural, artistic, cultural,...
on February 24, 1972. Directly behind the gate is a memorial statue for Chicago firefighters. The statue is located there because of the Chicago Union Stock Yards Fire
Chicago Union Stock Yards Fire
The Chicago Union Stock Yards fire occurred from December 22 to December 23, 1910 and resulted in the deaths of twenty-one Chicago Fire Department firemen....
, and around the base are engraved the names of all Chicago firefighters ever killed in the line of duty.
External links
- Union Stock Yard Gate, a segment from the film Fast Food NationFast Food NationFast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal is a book by investigative journalist Eric Schlosser that examines the local and global influence of the United States fast food industry....