Fehrenbacher Building

Historical marker location:

167 North Ottawa Street, Joliet, Illinois

( Marker is at the intersection of North Ottawa Street (U.S. 6) and West Clinton Street, on the right when traveling south on North Ottawa Street.)

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.