Herman Webster Mudgett alias Dr. H.H. Holmes was made famous by Erik Larson's bestselling book "Devil in The White City".  Visit locations in the Chicago Loop where this intelligent psychopath roamed, looking for swindle and murder victims.

HistoryCop

Herman Webster Mudgett alias Dr. H.H. Holmes was made famous by Erik Larson's bestselling book "Devil in The White City". This extremely intelligent sociopath roamed many previously undiscovered locations in the Chicago Loop looking for swindle and murder victims. Find out Where!

The Windy City Demon

H.H. Holmes was involved with William Green & Co. which had a warehouse on the Chicago River

While this location on the adventure is the most challenging to get to, it is also one of the most beautiful, as you find yourself on Chicago’s newly renovated Riverwalk. You should be standing on the south side of the Chicago River approximately 600 feet west of Lake Shore Drive and looking across the river at the Riverview Condominiums. 

William Green is probably one of the most mysterious of Holmes’ associates.  More than likely Green is simply another one of Holmes’ aliases and merely an alter ego of Holmes himself. Either way the association led me to a warehouse full of cement on the Chicago River as well as a possible murder victim in England. I had discovered Holmes’s earliest association with Green while looking over an 1891 lawsuit where Holmes was the plaintiff against his murder victim Julia Connor. The court documents mention that the money being sued over was for the use of William Green and Henry Rogers doing business as William Green & Co. In Holmes’ confession he mentions associating with an Englishman (who he was advised not to name) who assisted in murdering a man named Henry Rogers, a businessman from Appleton, Wisconsin. As it turns out Rogers wasn’t murdered, but died of natural causes three months after Holmes’ execution and died nearly penniless after being stuck holding the bag on Holmes’ bogus William Green & Co. He is buried next to his wife Cremora at Chicago’s historic Graceland Cemetery. Rogers was actually very well known in Appleton and his home called Hearthstone is currently a national landmark and museum. 

Another scam involving the enigmatic Green relates to the purported swindle of a young English farmer boy named Gerard Riddell.  According to court documents, Riddell had recently graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College on the Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire borders, roughly 130 miles northwest of London, England. The school was founded in 1842 and, today as well as back in 1893, catered to students from 11 to 18 years of age.  Riddell or someone posing as Riddell claimed that he met Green’s son at the school and introduced Green to his father. Green promised Riddell’s father that he could assist Riddell in becoming wealthy as a farmer in the United States. 

Luckily the court documents mention when and where they left England.  I was able to track them to the ship manifests of the RMS Teutonic of the White Star Line with one small problem.  Green was listed as 28 years old while Riddell, the young boy, was listed as 31 years of age, which coincidentally was how old Holmes was at the time.  Riddell goes on to mention that Green lived in Englewood and was working with a man named Rogers and that letters were written to his father asking for more and more money but the money was not making its way to Riddell. This whole thing smells of a Holmes swindle and chances are Riddell never made it back to the United States in the first place. Chances are Holmes and one of his 28-year-old associates went to England and did meet a young farmer boy named Gerard Riddell and did convince his father to let them bring Riddell to the U.S. in the hopes of making a good life for himself. Riddell more than likely never made it on the ship and Holmes merely assumed Riddell’s identity for the trip although probably couldn’t pass for 18 and used his actual age instead. 

Once Holmes and his accomplice made it to the states, they simply wrote letters to the father and pocketed the money. The money, according to court documents, was placed in multiple safety deposit boxes and Holmes was no longer able to get at the money. The lawsuit was filed to force the opening of the safety deposit box to be able to get at the money with Holmes using one of his many notaries to fraudulently represent himself as Gerard Riddell. This proves that there is no honor among thieves and there is probably somewhere a dead 28-year-old former associate of Holmes who attempted to double cross the wrong guy.

As far as the warehouse goes, we know that William Green and Co. was in the business of providing cement. Well at least we know they purchased a good amount of cement on Henry Rogers’ dime. They had a secluded location purchased by Rogers with easy access to the Chicago River.  You don’t have to be a detective to put two and two together and, let’s be honest, it would have been much easier to dispose of a body in that fashion and attract far less attention than to cremate it in the basement of a building in the crowded neighborhood of Englewood. Who knows if it might have also had some influence on Holmes when he chose to be buried in a solid block of cement after his execution in Philadelphia. After Holmes fled Chicago for the last time there was no longer any mention or trace of William Green or Gerard Riddell. 

One thing I found interesting about this location is that you can see the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel in the distance. The original Ferris Wheel was an icon of the White City and it is ironic that a Ferris Wheel would be overlooking this former site related to Erik Larson’s “Devil in The White City.”

Since you are standing on the Riverwalk you owe it to yourself to explore this great Chicago attraction. If you are into drinking Mai Tais like I am, might I suggest The Island Party Hut. It is just west of this location and you may have passed it on your way here. I came across this gem as I was preparing this adventure and they make one heck of a Mai Tai if I do say so myself.

The nearest Divvy Bike location is at the intersection of Stetson Avenue and South Water Street.

Warehouse on The Riverwalk

H.H. Holmes in and around The Daley Center

North of Washington Street between Clark and Dearborn is the Richard J. Daley Center.  While this building obviously did not exist during Holmes’ lifetime there is a link to Holmes that we will discuss later.

If you are standing on the south side of the building on Daley Plaza, you are standing within eyesight of two buildings where Holmes had offices. Unfortunately these buildings no longer exist but you can see where they stood and what they looked like. In 1891 Holmes was listed as a manager in room 519 at 85 N. Dearborn Street and was also listed as having a drug store at 701 63rd Street, which was what became known as his “murder castle.”  Chicago’s streets were renumbered in 1909 and 1911 and today the building occupying the space at 85 N. Dearborn (now 115 N. Dearborn) is the Commonwealth Edison Substation. 

The building standing at that location in Holmes’ day was the Chemical Bank Building designed by Burnham and Root, and it stood from 1889 until 1929. Unfortunately there is no indication of what Holmes was a manager of on the fifth floor of the building. I’m sure it was nothing legitimate and could have possibly just been his personal office space if his office wasn’t yet complete in his infamous building at 63rd and Wallace.  Realistically we are probably only aware of a portion of the business schemes he was involved with. Insurance scams, A.B.C. Copier sales territories, spring water, natural gas manufacturing, glass bending, and cement and storage are just some of his many scams and I am sure there were many more.  

In fact, the other building that is in sight of the Daley Center is the 33 N. Dearborn Building, also known as the Attorneys Title Guarantee Building. The 25-story building was designed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and was completed in 1967. In Holmes’ day it was the Illinois Bank Building or Union Bank Building. Its address in the late 19th century was 115 N. Dearborn and today would be more or less 25 N. Dearborn. The entrance would have faced Dearborn Street and would have occupied the area of about the south third of the current building. The building was designed again by Burnham and Root and was 8 stories tall. It was billed as a fireproof office building with halls laid in Roman mosaic tile as well as marble wainscoting. It boasted two hydraulic elevators and a barber shop.  

Mary Kelly was a notary who worked for Holmes from February 22, 1891 until May of 1892. She initially worked for Holmes at his A.B.C. Copier Co. in the Monon building, but after the copier business was shut down Holmes moved to the Union Bank Building and started the Chicago Intermediate Company. Incorporated in December of 1891, the Chicago Intermediate Company listed the owners as Mary Durkee (a mix of the names of Mary Kelly and another employee Kate Durkee), Myrta Z. Belknap (Holmes’ second wife) and J. L. Connor (one of his murder victims). 

The hilarious part of the whole thing was the purpose listed for the corporation, “To investigate and report upon the financial standing of persons and corporations.” Don’t worry, if you had questions about the legitimacy of a business just check with Holmes. Mary Kelly told the Chicago Tribune that Holmes rarely had more than her and a couple of boys in the office and basically the purpose of the business was to provide whatever service or product someone was willing to pay for. In an interesting twist Mary Kelly stated that Holmes always paid them!  Short of the notice of incorporation, there wasn’t much history surrounding the business.  

Original Holmes Document at the Court Archives of the Daley Center

Now back to the Richard J. Daley Center.  The Daley Center was originally called the Chicago Civic Center, but was named after Chicago’s mayor only 7 days after his death in 1976.  It houses 120 courtrooms and many city and county offices. One office of particular interest to this adventure is the Clerk of the Circuit Court Archives.  The archives houses many old Cook County cases and one in particular that I found interesting was the civil case in which H. H. Holmes sued his murder victim Julia Connor. It isn’t a large case because Holmes very rarely followed through on anything, but within the folder is an original promissory note (usually only copies exist in the files) on which Holmes hand-signed his name multiple times on the reverse of the document.  In fact this was the case that broke open the research into the link between Holmes, William Green and Henry Rogers from Appleton, Wisconsin. 

The Archives was kind enough to place this case in its vault to make it more easily accessible to the general public. Yes, you can put your hands on an original document held by Holmes and signed by him. Keep in mind that the Daley Center is an active courthouse and you will be required to pass through metal detectors. Cell phones are allowed. Once through the detectors, take the elevator bank that leads to the 11th floor and the archives are in room 1113. Sign in at the desk and simply ask for the Holmes case in Box 87, Folder 5 from the vault. You will be required to provide a driver’s license or state ID while you inspect the file, which will be returned to you when you return the file. 

The nearest Divvy Bike location is on the east side of the Daley Center on Dearborn.  

The Richard J. Daley Center

The Monon Building and the A.B.C. Copier Company

If you are standing on the northeast corner of Congress and Dearborn you will be standing next to the Manhattan Building. The building, erected in 1890 and designed by William Le Baron Jenney, is the first 16-story skyscraper in the world. If you’re starting this adventure early in the morning (or you’re just itchin’ for a caffeine fix) you can grab a cup of coffee at Hero Coffee Shop on the corner. As historic as the Manhattan Building is, we are concerned with the gas station and parking structure directly across the street. (No, this is not the gas station where Holmes bought the fuel for his incinerator.) We are going to discuss The Monon Building.  

The Monon Building would, if it were standing today, have the address of 436 – 444 S. Dearborn, which would be almost exactly across the street from the Manhattan building, which occupies 423 – 439 S. Dearborn. The Monon, built in 1890, was the first modern 13-story building and was the last building designed by architect John M. Van Osdel, who was Chicago’s first architect. It was named for the Monon Railroad, whose offices occupied most of the building while patent lawyers and publishers filled the rest of the offices. There was one tenant however that the owners didn’t count on: Dr. Henry Howard Holmes. 

Holmes made the Monon home to one of his several bogus business ventures. This particular bogus company was probably the closest to legitimate of all of his schemes.  It was called the A.B.C. Copier Company. The name was pretty ingenious for the time in that it placed Holmes’ business on the first line of the Chicago Lakeside Business Directory. The company was originally started by Frederick Nind, Thomas Barbour Bryan and J.D. Vandercook after Nind had purchased a patent for the A.B.C. Copier in London. Nind was introduced to Holmes as an investor looking for a business opportunity and convinced Thomas Barbour Bryan, the eventual Vice President of the 1893 Columbian Exposition, to sell him his stake in the company.  Bryan agreed and of course the $1,500 note endorsed by Kate Durkee, one of Holmes’ many female notaries, was worthless.  The business operated in suite 720 on the seventh floor of the Monon building and involved the services of Pat Quinlan (“murder castle” custodian) Wharton Plummer, one of Holmes’ attorneys, Kate Durkee and Mary Kelly, two of his notaries, and an occasional appearance by Holmes’ second wife, Myrta Belknap.

The company actually did business with a few reputable individuals and companies such as architect Henry Ives Cobb, who designed the Fisheries Building at the Columbian Exposition, and the Pullman Palace Car Company. Where they made their "real" money was selling "exclusive" sales territory for the machines.  Holmes would sell the same area multiple times for as much as $5,000 for the State of Ohio.

No scam can last forever and Holmes always had an angle.  He would create multiple businesses and have one of his businesses sue the other so that he could steal the money from the one individual who actually had money to lose.The A.B.C. Copier Co. ordered a large quantity of glycerin from another Holmes business called William Green & Co. The suit bankrupted the A.B.C. Copier Company leaving Frederick Nind and J. D. Vandercook holding the bag with proceeds of the Sheriff's sale of A.B.C. Copier going to Holmes' William Green & Co.

The Monon Building was demolished in 1947 to make room for the expansion of the Congress Expressway.  Only a gas station and a parking structure remain.

The nearest Divvy Bike rental station is two blocks west of this location at Congress and Clark.

The Monon Building

An introduction to the story of H.H. Holmes and this adventure

Welcome to History Cop’s “The Real H. H. Holmes in the Loop Adventure,” powered by Vamonde. This adventure will take you to various locations in the Chicago Loop that have a historical link to the 19th century con man and murderer Herman Webster Mudgett, who is known to most of the world under his most commonly used alias, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes. Throughout the adventure you will learn about the historical significance of the location through videos, audio, text and photos and also through your own individual experiences at the different sites. There is no wrong or right order of visitation to the sites or method to move from site to site. How you conduct your adventure is completely up to you, although in the Loop it is usually easier to walk or bike to the different locations. I will make occasional references to a DIVVY bike rental station if it is convenient to the location. You can visit www.divvybikes.com for more info. 

Now, for a little history on our dear Dr. Holmes. Holmes was born Herman Webster Mudgett on May 16, 1861 to Levi and Theodate Mudgett of Gilmanton, N.H. Holmes wrote in his autobiography that he was raised in a strict Methodist household. He also blamed his fascination with anatomy and dissection on an incident in which, as a child, he was led into the local doctor’s office and forced to gaze upon a human skeleton. 

He married Clara Lovering (his first and only legitimate wife) on July 4, 1878 and had one child, Robert Mudgett, two years later. In 1884 he graduated from the University of Michigan School of Medicine and shortly after moved to Chicago where he registered as a pharmacist with the State of Illinois as DR. HENRY HOWARD HOLMES.

Holmes was a prolific con man driven by money and ego but would occasionally murder someone if he could profit from their death or if they became a liability because they learned too much about his criminal schemes. His love of money was so great that when disposing of victims he would strip the soft tissue from their bodies and sell their skeletons to the local medical colleges. The going rate was $200 and, better yet, there were no questions asked. 

In order to try to cash in on the upcoming 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition or "White City" as it became known, Holmes had a three-story hotel built on the south side of 63rd St. near the intersection of Wallace Ave. This structure would later become known as the “murder castle” once Holmes’ schemes were laid bare. The building had stores on the first floor and hotel rooms on the third floor. It was the second floor that contained his killing rooms which were piped in such a way to allow Holmes to murder certain guests with gas in their sleep. The second floor seemed to be designed to confuse guests in that it had hallways that led nowhere, secret rooms, windowless rooms and chutes large enough for a human body that led from the upper floors to the basement. Holmes’ castle remained until it was demolished in 1938 to make room for the U.S. Post Office that stands just to the west of where the castle once stood.  

While his “murder castle,” made famous by Eric Larson’s bestselling book “Devil in The White City,” stood in the South Side Chicago neighborhood of Englewood, our adventure is going to focus on the lesser known exploits of Holmes right here in Chicago’s Loop. So get ready to walk in the footsteps of Dr. H. H. Holmes as he swindled, cheated and murdered his way through Chicago’s Loop while brushing shoulders with some of the City’s most historic figures. 

Introduction

H.H. Holmes swindled the Vice President of the World's Congress Auxiliary

H. H. Holmes and The Art Institute Building

The building that now houses the Art Institute of Chicago has become a Chicago icon. The building is one of the last remaining buildings from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. It is one of the few buildings of the Expo that were intended to be permanent. The other was the Palace of Fine Arts, which is now Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. The building was designed by the Boston firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge to house the World’s Congress Auxiliary of the World’s Fair. The Art Institute, which predates the building, paid for roughly half of the construction cost with the understanding that, following the Expo, the building would become the new home of the institute. The World’s Congress Auxiliary is where speakers from all around the world could present topics related to everything from science to arts to religion. 

One of the most famous conferences held was the World’s Parliament of Religions where the citizens of Chicago as well as from around the world were introduced to the world’s many diverse religions.  The most famous, and from most accounts, most loved of the speakers was the Swami Vivekananda.   He started his speech with the phrase , “Sisters and Brothers of America.” It got him a standing ovation and in 1995 the stretch of Michigan Avenue that runs in front of the Art Institute was given the honorary name of Swami Vivekananda Way.

The Vice President of the World's Congress Auxiliary

Thomas Barbour Bryan was the vice president of the World’s Congress Auxiliary, a vice president of the Exposition itself, a Commissioner General of the Expo and Chairman of the Congresses Committee of Organization and, oh yes, a swindle victim of Dr. H. H. Holmes.  Bryan was convinced by a trusted associate, Fred Nind, to fund the purchase of a London patent for a copy machine. Nind then introduced Holmes to Bryan. Holmes claimed to want to buy Bryan’s interest in the company and paid him $9,000 using a worthless note endorsed by Kate Durkee, then going under the name Mary Durkee. Today the money would have amounted to nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Holmes incorporated the business under the names of Mr. Bryan, Mr. Nind and Byan’s associate Mr. J. D. Vandercook. Bryan claimed that he was never involved in any part of the business, had met Holmes approximately three times and was not impressed by him in the least. He also told the Chicago Tribune that none of his bones would be found under his property at 63rd and Wallace. 

The nearest Divvy Bike locations are just north and just south of the Art Institute on Michigan Avenue.

The Art Institute of Chicago

George F. Kimball was a wealthy glass manufacturer and swindle victim of H.H. Holmes

In addition to being a con man and a multi-murderer, it seems Holmes never paid for anything, especially if it was on credit. For instance, when he had his infamous World’s Fair Hotel or “murder castle” built at 63rd and Wallace, he used a different construction crew almost every week. He would fire the crew for alleged shoddy work practices and then refuse to pay them. In this way he never paid for the construction and no one person knew the exact layout of the building except for Holmes. Not only did he not pay workmen, but he didn’t like to pay for materials either. His “murder castle” needed glass for windows and, if you wanted glass in Chicago, George F. Kimball was your guy. Kimball at one time was a huge proponent of using glass to manufacturer caskets. He claimed that glass was less expensive and stronger than wood and through a new process the glass could be made to look like wood. Glass caskets never really caught on. 

The building that housed Kimball’s glass company is still standing at the northwest corner of Congress Parkway and Wabash across the street from the famed Auditorium Building.The building was built in 1886 and the architects were Treat & Foltz. The building's original address was 442 to 452 Wabash Avenue and is currently 434 Wabash Avenue 

When Holmes purchased the glass from Kimball, he used his mother-in-law’s name, Lucy Belknap, as a co-purchaser of the windows, and of course Holmes didn’t pay. George Kimball filed suit in May of 1888 but never received a dime. 

Kimball died in 1906 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York and is buried at Chicago’s Rosehill Cemetery with his wife Lydia and son Weston G. and, more than likely, in a glass casket. :)

The building is now home to the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Hostel and a number of other businesses including a Dairy Queen, if the weather is warm and you feel like a Blizzard. For a cool photo op, you can visit the “Penny for Your Thoughts” mural by L.A. street artist Morley in the parking lot just to the north of the Kimball building.    

For you Divvy Bike riders, the nearest Divvy Bike station is one block east at Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway.

George F. Kimball Building

H.H. Holmes used the landmark hotel to hobnob with Chicago movers and shakers

Standing at 17 E. Monroe Street and stretching from State to Wabash is the luxurious and historic Palmer House, which is now known as the Palmer House Hilton. One of the best ways to experience the history and ambience of the hotel is to order one of their signature drinks at the Lockwood lobby bar.  They have two drinks inspired by the Palmer and Honoré Families. The “Lockwood” is a refined vodka martini with a splash of sparkling moscato and is inspired by Bertha Palmer’s brother Lockwood Honoré. You may also choose to order a “Bertha” which combines vodka, Cointreau (an imported French triple sec), pomegranate and lemon juice. If neither suits your fancy, you can always try the Palmer House namesake bourbon or tequila. You may pause the adventure at this point if partaking in a libation and restart it once you are seated in the lobby or in the balcony that overlooks the lobby.    

The building, as you see it today, is actually the third incarnation of this historic hotel. The first Palmer House was meant as a wedding present from Potter Palmer to his wife Bertha Matilde Honoré and opened on September 26, 1871 at the northwest corner of State and Quincy only to be destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire a mere 13 days later. Potter lost nearly everything in the fire but was determined to rebuild, and on November 8, 1873 the Palmer House reopened on its current site. At eight stories tall and boasting over 700 rooms, the hotel was billed as not only the only “fireproof” hotel in the United States, but also the largest and best furnished. The bar room became a legendary drinking establishment boasting an 85-foot bar and the barber shop had 300 silver dollars embedded in its floor in a diamond pattern. By the end of the 19th century it was the social mecca of the City of Chicago. This was the Palmer House that Holmes would have been familiar with.

When Holmes came to Chicago he needed a way to meet people who had money.  He either needed an introduction or a location to meet the movers and shakers of the city or those potential victims with wealth who were passing through.  Anybody who was anybody called the Palmer House home and that is as true today as it was in the 19th century. It was the perfect hunting ground for Holmes. 

After he was convicted of the murder of his former partner Benjamin Pitezel, he was paid by Hearst Newspapers to write a so-called confession. In his confession he states that he and a business partner from England (who we can now identify as William Green, more than likely simply a Holmes alias) killed a businessman from Appleton, Wisconsin named Henry Rogers for financial gain. After they split the loot, Green went to the Palmer House and played cards all night. Holmes stated that Green had to borrow $100 in order to redeem his overcoat, rings and watch. First of all, Holmes never loaned any money to anyone and many times he projected his negative qualities on others to justify his opinion of himself. Holmes was a master at hiding a lie between two truths and more than likely losing at cards was too much of a blow to Holmes’ extraordinary ego so he just projected that fact onto the imaginary Green in his writings to the Hearst Newspapers. One of my biggest regrets concerning Holmes history is not knowing who outplayed Holmes enough at cards to take his coat, watch and rings.   

The Palmer House of Holmes’ era was replaced by the current Palmer House, which was erected in two sections between 1924 and 1927. This enabled the hotel to remain open and today allows it to retain its title as the oldest hotel in continuous operation in the United States. If you look to the north end of the lobby, you will see the staircase to the famous Empire Room, which is flanked by 24-karat gold-sheathed Tiffany chandeliers. If you look up, you will see the lobby’s famous ceiling that is roughly the size of a basketball court and consists of 21 individual paintings, created by muralist Louis Pierre Rigal in France and shipped to the U.S. in 1926. In 1996 the ceiling was completely restored by Italian art restorer Lido Lippi.  

One work of art that still exists from the Palmer House of Holmes’ era is in the center of the elevator foyer. It is a 19th century bronze sculpture of the Greek hero Bellerophon.  Bellerophon was a great monster killer before the time of Heracles and his claim to fame is that he killed the dreaded Chimera while riding the winged horse Pegasus. The Chimera had the heads of a lion and a goat, breathed fire, and had a serpent for a tail. The sculpture by Pierre-Eugène-Emile Hébert depicts Bellerophon after the slaying of the Chimera, with its tail as a trophy. 

On the balcony level you may see paintings (many reminiscent of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition) by artist Gretchen Hess.  Bertha Palmer was instrumental in the workings and management of the Fair and was president of the Board of Lady Managers during the Columbian Exposition.  In fact Bertha instructed a chef at the Palmer House to design a chocolate cake which could be eaten with the hands without making a mess. She needed these for a luncheon at the fairgrounds and, just like that, the delectable treat that we now know as the brownie was born.  

If you didn’t see it when you came in, make sure you see the gold peacock door and the statue of Romeo and Juliet that greets visitors entering the lobby. On the way out you may want to grab an original Palmer House brownie to go!  Yes, they do still make them. If in the future you want a more personal and detailed tour of the Palmer House, make sure you look into the History is Hott! tour conducted by Palmer House historian Ken Price. Reservations have to be made 24 hours in advance. You can inquire at the Lockwood Restaurant or visit www.lockwoodrestaurant.com for more details. A great book about Chicago’s hotels is “Chicago’s Grand Hotels” by Robert V. Allegrini and published by Arcadia Publishing.   

The nearest Divvy Bike location is one block west on Monroe Street and ½ block north on Dearborn Street.

The Palmer House

H.H Holmes meets third wife, Georgiana Yoke

An interesting facet of Holmes’ personality is that he never killed any of the women whom he considered his wives.  His first wife, Clara Lovering, was left in New Hampshire. His second wife, Myrta Belknap, was alive and well in Wilmette, and his third wife, Georgiana Yoke, was one of the key witnesses against him during his murder trial in Philadelphia. 

He met Georgiana in the building at the northeast corner of State Street and Congress Parkway. The building was constructed by one of Marshall Field’s and Potter Palmer’s old business partners, Levi  Z. Leiter. The building was erected in 1891, designed by famed architect William Le Baron Jenney, and was home to Georgiana Yoke’s employer, the Siegel & Cooper Department Store. The Harold Washington Public Library is directly across State Street from the building, and if it is during business hours, it is well worth an elevator trip to the beautiful 9th floor of the library.  From there you can look through the windows on the east side for a close up view of the inscription on the top of the Leiter Building.

Georgiana was a schoolteacher working in the third school district of Columbus, Indiana, who desperately wanted to be part of the excitement in Chicago surrounding the coming 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. She was a tall, strong, adventurous young woman of 23 years with blue eyes so large some thought them to look odd.  She secured a position with the Siegel & Cooper store shortly after arriving in the city in 1892 with the help of her mother Mary’s brother, Isaac Toner.

Georgiana turned 24 on October 17th the year of the World’s Fair, and three months later Holmes whisked her off to Denver, Colorado to be his third wife that we know of. The marriage was performed by the Reverend E.J. Wilcox of the Fifth Avenue Methodist Church on January 17, 1894.The marriage wouldn’t last long, however, as Holmes was soon arrested, tried, and convicted  for the murder of his business associate, Benjamin Frelan Pitezel.  Holmes was hanged on May 7, 1896 and a key witness concerning Holmes’ whereabouts and state of mind following Pitezel’s murder was his young wife Georgiana.   

Siegel & Cooper closed up shop in 1930 and the building became the flagship store for Sears Roebuck and Co. It is now the home of Robert Morris College and was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1997 as the oldest existing department store structure in the city.  Much of the interior of the building has been remodeled, but you can still see some of the original ironwork staircase in the lobby of the building. 

A wonderful book for further reading is “A Competent Witness, Georgiana Yoke and The Trial of H. H. Holmes” by Judith Nickels

For those of you Divvy Bike riders, the closest Divvy Bike station is one block north on State and Van Buren.

Siegel, Cooper & Co.

Completed in 1888 by Daniel Burnham and Partner John Welborn Root

Standing in grand style at the southeast corner of Adams and LaSalle street is what is considered the masterpiece of the Chicago architectural firm of Burnham and Root.  Finished in 1888, the building is considered to be one of Chicago’s first skyscrapers.  Complete with new conveniences such as electric lights and elevators, it was and still is a magnificent example of Burnham and Root’s work.

Shortly before the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Holmes formed a business called William Green and Co. Holmes had a history of forming businesses using an alias, sometimes henchmen under an alias, and sometimes individuals who had no knowledge they were even part of the business. One thing remained the same, however.  In every fake business or con, there had to be a victim or “dupe” who actually had money to be duped out of.  In William Green and Co., the dupe was Wisconsin businessman Henry Rogers. Rogers owned a paper mill company in Appleton, Wisconsin and somehow fell into Holmes’ trap. The company was in the business of providing cement and, while much was purchased, none was sold.  In 1892, Holmes’ William Green and Co. had offices on the 11th floor of the Rookery Building, room 1169 to be precise. 

Eventually, when Holmes’ murders and schemes were found out, he had to make a hasty exit from Chicago, leaving Rogers holding the bag for the many debts incurred by the company. Rogers died nearly penniless only three months after Holmes was executed in May of 1896 and is buried at Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery next to his wife Cremora.

Directly across LaSalle Street from the Rookery Building stood the Rand McNally building. This was where Holmes met with one of his other rich and famous swindle victims, Thomas Barbour Bryan. Mr. Bryan was the first vice president of the “White City” and also the president of the World’s Congresses during the fair.  Holmes met with him at the World’s Columbian Administration Offices in the McNally Building on the 4th and 5th floors.   We will discuss more about Bryan and Holmes in a different location in this adventure. The Rand McNally Building was demolished in 1911 and a new building was erected on the same site that once housed the City National Bank and Trust Co.

The lobby of the Rookery Building is open to the public during business hours which allows you to walk in the footsteps of Chicago’s architectural greats as well as the footsteps of the murderer and swindler, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes.  Don’t forget to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust in the southeast corner of the lobby.

There is a Divvy Bike rental location on the north side of the Rookery Building on Adams!

The Rookery Building

ANN ARBOR

ASHEVILLE

ATLANTA

AUSTIN

BALTIMORE

BOSTON

CHARLESTON

CHARLOTTE

CHICAGO

CLEVELAND

COLUMBUS

DALLAS

DENVER

DETROIT

GRAND RAPIDS

HOUSTON

KANSAS CITY

LAS VEGAS

MAINE

MIAMI

MILWAUKEE

MINNEAPOLIS

NASHVILLE

NEW ORLEANS

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VAMONDE

Plan your spring break family fun in Chicago! Check it out on the Choose Chicago channel on Vamonde.

Plan a family getaway the kids won't soon forget!

Spring Break Family Fun

Explore some of the locations of the Chicago blues scene of the 1960s with this VAMONDE adventure, based on the Chicago History Museum exhibition, "AMPLIFIED: Chicago Blues."

Chicago History Museum

Explore some of the locations of the Chicago blues scene of the 1960s with this VAMONDE adventure, based on the Chicago History Museum exhibition, "AMPLIFIED: Chicago Blues." Southern black migrants brought the blues to Chicago, where the music helped them forge connections and transform an unfamiliar, often inhospitable city into a new home. The music was also transformed—electrified and amplified to compete with urban noise. The photography of Raeburn Flerlage captures the streets, clubs, homes, and studios where a community of musicians defined the Chicago blues sound.

AMPLIFIED: Chicago Blues

From a 20th century resurgence that rivaled the Harlem Renaissance, to spectacular displays of Victorian Era architecture, this South Side neighborhood is responsible for tremendous cultural and social advances that are not to be missed.

The heart and soul of Chicago lies in its 77 vibrant neighborhoods, and going beyond the loop (Chicago’s downtown business district) will give you a much needed escape from the hustle and bustle of the skyscraper district. As part of the Beyond the Loop video series, The Second City and Goose Island Beer Company have teamed up with Choose Chicago to explore the local hotspots in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Discover why Bronzeville is more than just an artsy pocket on the South Side.

Bronzeville and Beyond

"How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?" We've all been there, even if we're not Ferris Bueller. After your mornings stretch, you look outside at the shining sun, soft breeze, and then wonder, "How can anyone expect me to handle work on a day like this?" So take the day off! While you're at it, follow in Ferris Bueller's footsteps too as Choose Chicago takes you through the film locations that made Ferris Bueller's Day Off such a wonderful adventure (but make sure Ed Rooney isn't on your tail).

It’s Ferris Bueller's Day Off! Take a day to explore the city, but don't get caught by the incredulous Principal Rooney! Kick it like a couple of wise-cracking high school kids at The Art Institute of Chicago and peer down from over 100 stories in the air with the Skydeck at Willis Tower. (Cover photo from @thiswashollywood via Instagram)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Chicago’s legendary Second City comedy troupe and Goose Island Beer Company have teamed up with Choose Chicago to create the quintessential Old Town experience. Join us as we explore the historic neighborhood and discover its many claims to fame.

As part of the Beyond the Loop video series, The Second City and Goose Island Beer Company have teamed up with Choose Chicago to create the quintessential Old Town experience. Discover why this neighborhood has been home to immigrant families, gays, hippies and young professionals alike over the years.

Quintessential Old Town

The Second City and Goose Island Beer Company team up with Choose Chicago to how you why even 120 years after the Columbian Exposition, Hyde Park is still a profound point of historical and social importance in Chicago.

The heart and soul of Chicago lies in its 77 vibrant neighborhoods, and going beyond the loop (Chicago’s downtown business district) will give you a much needed escape from the hustle and bustle of the skyscraper district. As part of the Beyond the Loop video series, The Second City and Goose Island Beer Company have teamed up with Choose Chicago to explore the local hotspots in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Join us as we show you why even 120 years after the Columbian Exposition, Hyde Park is still a profound point of historical and social importance in Chicago.

Hyde Park: Obama's Neighborhood

The Budget Savvy Travelers

Temperatures are rising and the days are getting longer. This is a sure sign that schools will soon be out for summer vacation. Families looking for fun, affordable ways to keep kids busy during hot days will appreciate this guide that shares some great ways to cool off around Chicago—most are even free.

Best Places to Cool Off in Chicago

Craving a getaway, but short on vacation time or extra travel funds? Why not consider embarking on a culinary adventure? Chicago is a great city to experience the world through food! There are over 100 different neighborhoods in the city, each with its own unique flavors and traditions to share. Chicago has always celebrated a diverse array of people, cultures, and cuisines. Therefore, it's not surprising that Chicago consistently ranks high in top foodie destinations in the United States. For those of us that can’t book a plane ticket to satisfy our travel “craving,” taking a culinary adventure is truly the next best thing. Chicago offers a great opportunity to be carried away to a dreamy, distant place–if only through our palates alone.

Traveling the World Through Food | Chicago

Haley Guidry

Only have a short time to visit Chicago? No problem! With this guide, you can fit it all in - in just a weekend!

Spending a Weekend in Chicago

Looking for some free activities to explore in Chicago? You'll be surprised to learn that there are many things to do around the city that are absolutely free of charge!

6 Chicago Hidden Gems to Explore For Free

Wrigley Field holds the very identity of the Chicago Cubs. But Wrigley isn’t the only spot that embodies the spirit of the Cubbies. Lakeview is home to so many rich businesses that are full of North side pride!

Lakeview Chamber of Commerce

Wrigleyville isn’t the only haven for fans of the Chicago Cubs. Take an adventure “Beyond Wrigley” into West Lakeview to explore some of the neighborhood icons and local businesses that are full of Cubbies pride!

Beyond Wrigley

Glessner House

Glessner House -

An architectural treasure in Chicago

Glessner House - An architectural treasure in Chicago

Welcome to the Chicago Cultural Center, a landmark home of the arts.

The People's Palace

Chicago Architecture Center

Chicago has long been a laboratory for architectural innovation and experimentation. Let the Chicago Architecture Center lead you through the stories behind some of the city’s most significant skyscrapers. Come on an adventure to unlock the secrets of ten iconic Chicago Buildings.

Cover photo courtesy of Jessica Cabe

10 Iconic Chicago Buildings

Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce

An Adventure through all the Best Spots in the City

Must Visit Attractions in Chicago

Chicago has one of the most iconic skylines in the world. This insider guide shows you the best vantage points to capture a memorable photo of the skyline of Chicago. Best of all? These are all places that you can visit that are all free of charge.

Where to Find Chicago's Best Skyline Views for Free

Start on Chicago's South Side and travel back in time as you explore visit the homes of some of the most influential LGBTQ+ people in the city's vibrant history. Make your way through Washington Park and Woodlawn moving north towards Rogers Park.

Learn about Chicago's vibrant LGBTQ+ history on this cultural excursion through various parts of the City. This tour covers the historic markers and residences of some of Chicago's top LGBTQ+ luminaries. Find out how they left their marks from Washington Park and Woodlawn all the way up north to Rogers Park.

Explore Gay Chicago History: LGBTQ+ Landmarks Tour

Around every corner of The Magnificent Mile lie surprising pieces that make up the rich history of downtown Chicago.

The Magnificent Mile

Around every corner of The Magnificent Mile lie surprising pieces that make up the rich history of downtown Chicago. Unexpected turn-of-the-century ballrooms, lavish chandeliers, stained glass fit for royalty, atlases of the Renaissance, former mansions of America's elite, eclectic bars, iconic burger joints, classic cocktails, and unbeatable views make up our guide to the top hidden gems around the district.

The Magnificent Mile's Hidden Gems

Choose Chicago® is the official destination marketing organization for Chicago, Illinois. When you’re in Chicago, you’re home. With the countless experiences there are to have here, you're absolutely welcome to do any and all of them.

The Windy City Demon

Warehouse on The Riverwalk

Warehouse on The Riverwalk

The Richard J. Daley Center

The Richard J. Daley Center

The Monon Building

The Monon Building

Introduction

Introduction

The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago

George F. Kimball Building

George F. Kimball Building

The Palmer House

The Palmer House

Siegel, Cooper & Co.

Siegel, Cooper & Co.

The Rookery Building

The Rookery Building

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