n
n
n
n SometimesnI wonder how puny, weakling humans even dare to think about flyingnthrough the sky (let alone going to the moon), traveling underwaternfor days at a time (let alone down to high-pressure depths), ornbuilding huge structures. Sometimes I look at even ordinarynaccomplishments like the average skyscraper, and I think, Wow! I’mnimpressed.
nn
n
n
n
n
n
Onnthis date in 1884, construction began in Chicago, Illinois, on thenfirst skyscraper in the world: the 10-story Home InsurancenBuilding. The architect, Major Jenney, created a steel structuralnframe that evolved into the “Chicago skeleton” form ofnconstruction in future skyscrapers. As a matter of fact, Chicago hasnbeen called the home of the skyscraper!
Onnthis date in 1884, construction began in Chicago, Illinois, on thenfirst skyscraper in the world: the 10-story Home InsurancenBuilding. The architect, Major Jenney, created a steel structuralnframe that evolved into the “Chicago skeleton” form ofnconstruction in future skyscrapers. As a matter of fact, Chicago hasnbeen called the home of the skyscraper!n
n
n
nCheck out this amazing video of lightning striking Chicago skyscrapers.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nOnnthis date in 1931, the Empire State Building was dedicated andnopened to the public. It was a whopping 102 stories high!nStrange-but-true: although the Empire State Building is in New YorknCity, it was officially opened by then-President Herbert Hoover whilenthe president was sitting in the White House, in Washington, D.C.!nThe president pressed a button, and far away, thenlights of the Empire State Building turned on, thereby declaring the building open!
n
n
n
n
n
n(Fromnthe sources I consulted, it seems apparent that President Hoover’snbutton was purely symbolic, and somebody right there in NYC flicked thenlight switch at the same moment.)
n
n
n
n
n
nFornmore info and activities about skyscrapers, check out this andnalso this other earlier post. n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
n
n
nMay Day
nn
n
n
n
n
n
n
nLei Day
n
n
n
n
n
n
