Historical Marker
Erwin E. Wood
Historical marker location:
15421 South Illinois Route 59, Plainfield, Illinois
Born on farm in Plainfield, Feb. 6, 1848.
The world's first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago in 1884. It was only 10 stories tall, but it was the first building to use a steel frame to support its weight, which allowed it to be much taller than traditional buildings made of brick or stone.