deconstruction of otto strack's 1893 buff-colored terra cotta frederick pabst columbian exposition pavilion underway

the exterior buff-colored ornamental terra cotta 1893 world's fair pabst beer pavilion (designed by architect otto strack, who also designed the extant pabst theater) will be shrouded in a steel web in preparation for deconstruction. will it be rebuilt using a hybrid of original and reproduced terra cotta ornament (the latter likely supplied by boston valley terra cotta company, buffalo, ny.) on the existing site? only time will tell.  

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.

images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2024.