Fort Dearborn, the first government building in Chicago; stood here

This is 360 North Michigan Avenue /London Guarantee Building ... A Chicago Landmark ... It stands exactly on the spot where the historical Fort Dearborn once stood [1803-12] ...

Fort Dearborn was the first government building to be built in Chicago – a U.S. Military Garrison – named after US Secretary of War, Henry Dearborn ... Its purpose was to protect the settlers against attacks by Native Americans. It ushered in an era of peaceful trade in the area. It was destroyed in war with Great Britain [1812] and then rebuilt in 1816. However after the U.S. troops abandoned the Fort in 1837, it was torn down in 1858, and whatever remained was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871.