London Guarantee Building, Chicago

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London Guarantee Building, Chicago

London Guarantee Building, Chicago

Say hi to the London Guarantee & Accident Building—Chicago’s take on “How fancy can an insurance office allow itself to get?” Since 1923, this Beaux-Arts beauty has been holding court on the city's skyline with all the drama and flair of a Gilded Age debutante. Designed by Alfred S. Alschuler for a British insurance firm that clearly didn’t believe in subtlety, this building is a love letter to classical architecture and Chicago’s ambition to dazzle the world, especially in the wake of the 1893 World’s Fair.

What makes it Beaux-Arts, you ask? Think Corinthian columns, Roman statues, and stonework so detailed it practically winks at you. In essence, this building is a temple to symmetry, opulence, and architectural ego. Every inch of its façade says, “Yes, we are this grand, thank you very much.”

And then there’s the crown jewel: that glorious cupola. Sitting atop the 22-story tower like a marble tiara, it features a colonnade and domed cap that scream “Look at me!” to anyone within a mile radius. It’s not just decorative—it’s competitive, throwing some elegant side-eye at the Wrigley Building across the street.

All in all, the London Guarantee Building doesn’t just occupy space—it owns it. One part classical romance, one part high-rise bravado, it’s a true Chicago original.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "ϳԹ: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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London Guarantee Building on Map

Sight Name: London Guarantee Building
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois

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