Boyce Building, Western Illinois Travel Guide

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Explore the historic Boyce Building in Chicago's Near North Side, once home to a publishing empire and the Lone Scouts of America.

The Boyce Building, a twelve-story structure at 54 W Illinois St, Chicago, stands as a testament to early 20th-century architecture and publishing history. Built between 1911 and 1923 for William D. Boyce's publishing empire and later serving as the headquarters for the Lone Scouts of America, it's a piece of Chicago's vibrant past.

A brief summary to Boyce Building

54 W Illinois St, Chicago, Near North Side, Illinois, 60654, US

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Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Boyce Building.

Check out the building's architecture, a fine example of early 20th-century Chicago commercial design.
Explore the River North neighborhood, known for its art galleries, restaurants, and vibrant nightlife.
Consider visiting nearby attractions like the Merchandise Mart and Michigan Avenue.

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Explore Boyce Building on the Map

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Getting There

Walking

The Boyce Building is located at 54 W Illinois St, in the River North neighborhood. From the nearby intersection of State and Illinois, walk west on Illinois Street. The building will be on your left, a short walk from the intersection.
Public Transport

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) provides convenient access to the Boyce Building. Several bus routes serve the area, with stops within a short walking distance of the building. Check the CTA website or app for real-time schedules and route information. A single bus or train fare is $2.25 or $2.50, respectively. You can pay with a Ventra card or contactless payment.
Taxi/Ride-Share

Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available throughout Chicago. A short ride from downtown or nearby neighborhoods will typically cost between $10 and $20, depending on traffic and distance. Be sure to confirm the fare before you begin your trip.
Parking

Several parking garages are located near the Boyce Building. Parking rates vary, with hourly rates ranging from $12 to $20. Consider using a parking app like ParkChicago or SpotHero to find and reserve a spot in advance. Street parking is also available, but it can be limited and subject to hourly rates of $4.75 to $7.00, depending on the location.

Discover more about Boyce Building

The Boyce Building, located at 54 W Illinois St in Chicago's Near North Side, is a significant historical landmark with a rich story to tell. Constructed in stages from 1911 to 1923, it served as the headquarters for William D. Boyce's publishing company, the W. D. Boyce Publishing Company, which was a leading magazine publisher at the time. Boyce's company produced periodicals like “The Saturday Blade” and “The Chicago Ledger,” reaching millions of readers in rural and small-town America.The building itself is an architectural gem, originally designed by D.H. Burnham & Co. and later expanded by Christian Eckstrom. Its twelve stories are clad in light gray Vermont granite and red brick, showcasing the Chicago School of architecture with its steel-frame construction and large windows. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest office building north of the Chicago River and west of Michigan Avenue. The building also housed five printing presses and a mail room. At full capacity, it could produce 180,000 papers per hour.Beyond its publishing history, the Boyce Building is also notable for its connection to the Boy Scouts of America. William D. Boyce was one of the organization's founders, and the building served as the North American headquarters for the Lone Scouts of America from 1915 to 1924. Boyce even used the building's penthouse as his personal residence, calling it his “sky bungalow”. The Boyce Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 29, 1996. Today, the Boyce Building is home to various office tenants and restaurants.