additional ornamental terra cotta salvaged from otto strack-designed pabst pavillion (1893) joins bldg. 51 museum collection

the bldg. 51 museum has aquired additional buff-colored terra cotta ornament from the otto strack-designed pabst beer pavilion built for the world's columbian exposition of 1893. the pavilion was located in central hall of the fair's agricultural building, designed by designed by charles mckim of mckim, mead & white. the historically important terra cotta corbels with egg & dart border were removed and replaced during ongoing renovation and/or stabilization of the pavilion's exterior. the structure's terra cotta ornament was executed by the chicago-based northwestern terra cotta company.

the pabst brewing company hired milwaukee-based architect otto strack to design a heavily ornamented buff-colored terra cotta trade pavilion to house and display a thirteen-foot gold-washed model of the pabst brewing company building (designed by chicago architect s.s. beman in 1891) surrounded by pabst brewing products.

the structure was constructed of buff-colored terra cotta executed by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, ills. the pavilion featured hop vines, beer steins, the god and goddess of barley and hops, and other ornament that symbolized the brewing industry. the exterior was also accentuated with gold leaf and crowned by an oversized richly colored stained-glass dome.

shortly after the conclusion of the chicago fair in october of 1893, frederick pabst had the entire structure carefully dismantled, crated, and shipped to his milwaukee residence where it was rebuilt as a private conservatory.

all photos courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2022.