In our post on the Chicago Architecture Foundation Store, we mentioned the AIA Guide to Chicago. It's our favorite catalog of the city's buildings, organized geographically with addresses and brief write-ups on each structure. We have the first edition, which we got in college for an art history class. We still use it for reference all the time. The 2nd edition came out in 2004 and includes over 1,700 entries and 40 maps...
Although there are lots of guides to Chicago architecture, we love this one because it collects the most information in one place. The entries aren't long - major buildings have longer articles, but many small homes have just a few sentences. Still, it's a great resource when you need to access information quickly and easily. It's also a good walking guide, since chapters are organized by neighborhood.
The American Institute of Architects produces guides for many major American cities, organized in the same format. The AIA Guide to Chicago is available through AIA Chicago, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and other sources for $30.
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Glad to hear you like the AIA Guide (I drew all the maps). Actually the order of the entries within each chapter was set up so it would be the most efficient walking (or driving, in some chapters) route--even accounting for one-way streets. That's a little funny in the Loop, where the route goes all the way down State, then up Dearborn, then back south down Clark, etc.
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Awesome! My mom is a huge fan of Chicago architecture. She grew up there, and all she does when she goes back to visit is wander around looking at buildings. I just ordered a copy for her. She'll absolutely love it. This book sounds like such an amazing resource.
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