Slice of Life: Invisible Nuclear History

It looks like just another athletic field now, but this was the location of one of the most important events in human history.  Some liken it to the development of speech, or the discovery of fire, or the invention of the wheel.

I'm no scientician, so I'll quote the Manhattan Project entry from Wikimopedia:

The first major scientific hurdle of the project was solved on December 2, 1942, beneath the bleachers of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago, where a team led by Enrico Fermi, for whom Fermilab is named, initiated the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in an experimental nuclear reactor named Chicago Pile-1. Compton reported the success to Conant in Washington, DC by a coded call, saying, "The Italian navigator [referring to Fermi] has landed in the new world, the natives are friendly."

There's supposed to be a marker around here somewhere making note of the event, but I haven't been able to find it yet.

Update

One of our readers posted a response below letting us know where the marker is.  Unfortunately, instead of being friendly and helpful he decided to be rude and insulting, so his comments have been deleted.

But the upshot is that there is a marker.  It is on Ellis Avenue, south of East 56th Street.  Sadly, such an important monument is not noted on the University of Chicago's campus maps.

The reader incorrectly claims that Stagg Field no longer exists, though it is clearly labeled on U of C's campus maps.  As colleges are always evolving, it is likely that Stagg Field was once larger, or in a different location, or both.  But it certainly exists.

Slice of Life: Where Dragons Perch

I ran into a graduate of the University of Chicago School of Business in Seattle recently.  We got to talking, and he couldn't say enough good things about the UofC's campus architecture.  I made the observation that parts of the campus are like going to school at Hogwarts.  He looked at me like I had two heads.

Maybe he just takes for granted that there are dragons and griffins and nymphs and architectural gingerbread at the University of Chicago.  I went to two colleges, both on the East Coast, and both crappy. The buildings were brick, and constructed like army barracks.

So, here's a picture of one of those University of Chicago dragons.  If you go to UofC, take some time to appreciate the effort that went into making your campus both beautiful and interesting.  If you don't go to UofC, take a day to walk around and marvel at what can be done when people design and decorate buildings for long-term benefit, and not just with an eye on the next quarter's financial forecast.

Slice of Life: Grotesque in Hyde Park

A griffin stands guard at the apex of a gate on the campus of the University of Chicago in Hyde Park.  Around it, various grotesques writhe and cling to the rampart.

Slice of Life: Living Off The Land

A group of people sift through the leaves underneath a tree in a Chicago public park.  There are probably lots of things you can eat in the city's parks.  In New York, the city actually had tours that show you all the edible things in Central Park.  I don't know if there's a similar tour available in Chicago.



I also don't know what kind of nuts or fruits or berries they were gathering.  They didn't speak any English.  Here's a picture of the tree's fruit.  If you know what it is, post it in the comments section of this page, or in our Chicago discussion forum.

Slice of Life: Icy Anticipation

The skating rink at Midway Plaisance Park awaits the first skaters of the season.  This picture was taken about an hour before it opened for the season, which was long before snow fell on Chicago.  On the left is a young priest discussing skating techniques with a city worker.

Status Update: University of Chicago New Hospital Pavilion Project

A crane towers over Hyde Park as it assembles the University of Chicago's New Hospital Pavilion Project. Hopefully that's a temporary name.  The 10+1-story project designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects & Cannon Design should be done in 2012, and will add 1.2 million square feet of space to the medical campus.

Status Update: New DuSable Museum

Work continues on the expansion of the DuSable Museum in Hyde Park.  The Roundhouse Project, as it is called, is being built in an 1800's horse stable designed by Daniel Burnham.

Video: Chicago's Hidden Architecture

It's said that the devil is in the details.  If that's true, it's no wonder that one of the most famous Chicago books is Devil in the White City.  Literature aside, much of the architecture that helped make Chicago great is festooned with details that are often overlooked, even by people trying to look for them.

WTTW's Chicago Tonight program recently aired a piece about the details of Chicago architecture that often go unappreciated.



As an aside -- if you're wondering why there are suddenly WTTW videos on this blog, it's because someone from the station contacted me to encourage me to add them so they can be seen by a wider audience. It's also good because it helps people see the Chicago history and architecture pieces WTTW does without having to wade through things they're not interested in. And considering how frustrating and unreliable Comcast's WTTW on demand service is, this is probably an easier way to see the clips.