Vintage Poster Archives
Chicago Elevated Lines 1924 | Rocco Navigato Railway Poster
Chicago Elevated Lines 1924 | Rocco Navigato Railway Poster
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Michigan Avenue stretches into the night, a river of turquoise light punctuated by the golden windows of Chicago's skyscrapers. The newly opened Michigan Avenue Bridge spans the Chicago River, connecting the city's northern and southern halves.
Designed by Rocco Navigato in 1924 for the Chicago Elevated Lines, this poster encouraged travel to the city's attractions via the elevated rail system. Navigato's studio atop the Wrigley Building afforded him this view of the bridge, the avenue, and the London Guarantee Insurance building.
The composition depicts Chicago at the height of the Jazz Age, when the city was transforming into a modern metropolis. The elevated train lines snake through the urban canyon, while automobiles flow in steady streams below. Each illuminated window suggests the bustling life within.
This archival print reproduces Navigato's lithographic work, preserving the poster's ability to transport viewers to an era when train travel was adventure and Chicago was the gateway to America's heartland.
