Influence of Beaux-Arts Architecture

Look at the old photographs of Washington, DC. Look at Chicago.

You can see the scale. Absolutely enormous.

Columns the size of redwood trees, facades that tower over everything

around them, including the people standing on the

sidewalk.

These horse carts that look like toys in front of these

structures.

This architecture didn't stay confined to the fairs.

The Chicago White City directly inspired what became known as the City

Beautiful movement in American urban planning.

The architects went home and started building in

that style everywhere.

The federal government adopted Beaux-Arts architecture as a standard for federal

buildings, which is why courthouses, post offices, and capitol buildings all

across America look like pieces from the same set