Launched in 1869 by John M. Wing, the Land Owner was devoted to landed interests, building, and improvement. Its illustrations documented many of the Chicago region's most substantial real estate and technological developments. The paper described its illustration of Prairie Avenue as follows: "Our artist shows in this issue a number of the beautiful homes on Prairie avenue, one of the most fashionable and handsomely-built of all our South-Side thoroughfares. No city in the world can rival Chicago in its residences, a fact which shows that this class of buildings has not suffered by the fire and consequent turning of capital into the erection of business blocks. After all, one of the greatest attractions a city can offer is its homes, for to obtain them is the end of most men's aspirations, for which they toil and sweat in the counting-room and the various trades and professions. Visitors who crowd to Chicago neglect to see the homes of our citizens, being wholly absorbed and astonished by the wonderful buildings put up since the fire in the burnt district. They should not fail to visit such streets as Prairie avenue, where the home-life of our citizens of means is laid."

Artist: Unknown
Source: Chicago Historical Society (ICHi-38261)