PANORAMAS AND LIBBY PRISON.
[Illustration]
The panoramas of Chicago have become justly celebrated. They are
patterned after the famous panoramas of Europe, being contained in huge
circular buildings. There are at present three panoramas--the Battle of
Gettysburg and the Falls of Niagara, on Panorama Place, a mile south
of Madison street on Wabash avenue, and Chicago on Fire--the latter
being a splendid representation of Chicago as it looked at the time
of the awful conflagration that drew the eyes of the civilized world
upon the suffering city. The Battle of Gettysburg is the oldest of the
three. The portrayal of the greatest battle of the war of the rebellion
is realistic beyond description. It is impossible for the spectator
to detect where the canvas blends with the natural presentation
beneath the feet. Hundreds of thousands of people have visited this
attraction. The Wabash avenue cable cars take the visitor direct
to “Gettysburg” and to “Niagara,” which is just across the street.
“Niagara” is a faithful delineation of the world-famous falls, the
portrayal being so realistic that the spectator, in fancy, can almost
hear the roar of the water.
The panorama depicting the fire is shown in the building formerly
consecrated to the Battle of Shiloh, on Michigan avenue, near Madison
street. Here the visitor may stand for an hour lost in wonder at the
realism of the scene so artfully drawn on canvas. The panic of a great
city in the throes of a hopeless battle with the destroying element
is admirably pictured, and from a view of that speaking and truthful
canvas one may gain a slight idea of the bitter agony of those hours
when the proud city was laid low in the face of as horrible a calamity
as ever befell a community. The panoramas have a uniform admission fee
of fifty cents.
[Illustration]
The Libby Prison War Museum, located on Wabash avenue, between
Fourteenth and Sixteenth streets, belongs to the same class as the
panoramas in the amusement category, inasmuch as the visitor may
enter and wander around for half a day or so if he chooses, taking
his own time to view the attractions offered. Libby Prison is one
of the leading permanent attractions of the city. On the outside,
fronting on Wabash avenue, is a massive stone wall, and on the inside
is the identical Libby Prison in which the soldiers of the north were
incarcerated during the war. The building was purchased in Richmond
by Chicago capitalists, and has been put up, brick for brick, exactly
as it stood during the time when the nation was convulsed by the
horrors of civil war. Within its walls will be found portraits of all
the leading soldiers and statesmen, northern and southern, of that
period; all kinds of firearms and ammunition, ancient and modern; a
fine collection of historical documents, including the will made by
John Brown an hour before his execution, and many other war relics. It
may be easily imagined how deep an interest this place possesses for
old soldiers, union or confederate. Old comrades, separated since the
close of hostilities, often meet there, and many are the reminiscences
exchanged. The Libby Prison is open day and evening. The admission fee
is fifty cents, children half-price.
Not far from Libby Prison, on Wabash avenue, is another structure that
possesses a strong historical interest. This is the fort of John Brown,
transported entire to this city and enclosed in a neat iron building.
Enterprise has no compunction in these days, and it is hard to tell
what the visitor to Chicago will not see if he waits long enough.
[Illustration: PANORAMAS, CASINO AND LIBBY PRISON.]