Prairie Avenue

At the turn of the last century, most of Chicago's wealthiest citizens lived along a single street on the near south side. Prairie Avenue was once home to George Pullman, Phillip Armour, and the city's richest man, Marshall Field.

The avenue of millionaires blossomed almost overnight. But barely 20 years later, the wealthy abandoned the neighborhood and took up residence on the north side. Today, only a handful of mansions remain, most notably, the Glessner House , which was narrowly saved from the wrecking ball by a group of impassioned professionals that would later form the Chicago Architecture Foundation Chicago Stories looks at the rise and fall of Prairie Avenue: Chicago's First Gold Coast.