Daniel Burnham
American architect and urban designer of the Beaux-Arts movement.
Daniel Hudson Burnham (September 4, 1846 – June 1, 1912) was an American architect and urban designer. A proponent of the Beaux-Arts movement, he may have been 'the most successful power broker the American architectural profession has ever produced'. He is best known for his role as Director of Works for the 1892–93 World's Columbian Exposition, his skyscrapers, and his city plans for Chicago, Manila, Baguio, and downtown Washington, D.C.
- born
- September 4, 1846, Henderson, New York
- died
- June 1, 1912
- field
- Architecture, urban design
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- World's Columbian Exposition (White City), Plan of Chicago, Flatiron Building, Washington Union Station, Selfridges department store
Lore & Background
Burnham was born in Henderson, New York, and raised in the Swedenborgian faith, which instilled a belief in service to others. He moved to Chicago at age eight. He was not a good student but was skilled at drawing. After failing Harvard and Yale admissions due to test anxiety, he returned to Chicago in 1867 and apprenticed under William LeBaron Jenney. He later tried gold mining in Nevada and ran for the Nevada state legislature, both unsuccessfully, before returning to architecture. In 1873, he partnered with John Wellborn Root, and their firm became highly successful, producing early skyscrapers such as the Montauk Building and the Masonic Temple Building. After Root's sudden death in 1891, Burnham renamed the firm D.H. Burnham & Company and expanded into city planning.
Reader's Guide
Burnham's significance lies in his dual impact on architecture and urban planning. As Director of Works for the World's Columbian Exposition, he oversaw the creation of the 'White City', which popularized Beaux-Arts neoclassical architecture across the United States. His firm designed iconic structures including the Flatiron Building in New York, Washington Union Station, and London's Selfridges department store. Notably, almost one third of his total output—14.7 million square feet—consisted of buildings for shopping. His city plans, such as the Plan of Chicago and plans for Manila and Baguio, established him as a pioneer of comprehensive urban design. Despite early career failures and personal setbacks, Burnham's ability to secure clients and manage large-scale projects made him a dominant figure in American architecture.
Did You Know?
- Burnham failed the admissions examinations for both Harvard and Yale due to test anxiety.
- He tried gold mining in Nevada and later ran for the Nevada state legislature, failing at both.
- The Montauk Building, designed by Burnham and Root, was so tall that the term 'skyscraper' was coined to describe it.
- Almost one third of Burnham's total output—14.7 million square feet—consisted of buildings for shopping.
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