1929 Old Fort Dearborn

This is a very attractive aquatint print of Old Fort Dearborn in Chicago, Illinois signed by Raoul Varin and numbered 59 of 125. These prints were later produced in greater numbers for the Century of Progress World's Fair, but none of those reprints were signed or numbered. Fort Dearborn, which was constructed in 1803 at the mouth of the Chicago River, is shown with the Lake House on the right side and a steamboat in the back left.  Numerous American flags grace the buildings. The fort was constructed by U.S. troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, the United States Secretary of War.  The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of Fort Dearborn during the War of 1812, and a replacement Fort Dearborn was constructed on the same site in 1816 which stood until 1837 when the fort was de-commissioned.