No “Daniel” Planned Chicago—It Was Daniel Burnham

Correction

There is no historical figure named “Daniel” who planned Chicago. The seminal plan is the 1909 Plan of Chicago by Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett.

Burnham Plan Highlights

• Lakefront for the people: Continuous parks, beaches, lagoons (now 26 mi).
• Regional highway system: Radial and circumferential arteries.
• Civic Center: Grand monumental core (partially realized).
• Forest preserves: Green belt around metro area.
• Union Station consolidation: Rationalized rail terminals.

Legacy

“Make no little plans.” The Plan shaped Chicago’s identity—lakefront access, grid+diagonal streets, park system—and influenced city planning worldwide.