Continue walking west on Goethe until you reach Astor Street. Astor Street is synonymous with "the Gold Coast", and is the most exclusive street in Chicago. On the west side of Astor, just north of Goethe, you'll find the row homes (#1308 - #1312) built by famed architect John Wellborn Root.

Root is credited with pioneering modern steel-frame construction, and is best known for his work with architect Daniel Burnham. In 1873, Burnham and Root started their famous architecture firm, and they prospered after the great Chicago fire in 1871. Together they built over 300 buildings nationally, including the country’s first skyscraper - the Montauk Building. The Montauk was built in Chicago in 1883 and demolished in 1902. Only three of the structures designed by Burnham and Root remain in Chicago: the Monadnock, the Rookery and the Reliance buildings. You can see all of these buildings our our free, self-guided Loop / Architecture walking tour.

Built in 1887, John Wellborn Root lived at 1310 Astor until his death in 1891. He died of pneumonia at the young age of 41.