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(Above image: The Morton Salt warehouse complex, constructed between 1929 and 1930, has long been an iconic part of the Chicago landscape. A couple years ago, the industrial site was reborn as the Salt Shed. Photo credit: Sandra Steinbrecher)
For nearly a century, the former Morton Salt company complex has claimed land along the North Branch of the Chicago River—and caught the eye of drivers and train-takers rolling along the Kennedy Expressway. Bordering Goose Island, the warehouse buildings were originally built for Morton Salt’s storage, packaging and distribution operations. Brought to life by architecture firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White—also behind other iconic Chicago spaces, including the Wrigley Building, Merchandise Mart, and Shedd Aquarium— and constructed between 1929 and 1930, the facility’s rooftop is home to a branding legend: The company’s name in large type, next to the umbrella-carrying Morton Salt Girl and the slogan, "When It Rains It Pours."
The Rise, Decline and Rebirth of Chicago's Morton Salt Complex
For decades, Morton Salt was an industrial powerhouse in Chicago. In the 1900s, salt-filled barges navigated the Chicago River to the Morton factory, which at its peak processed more than 150,000 tons of salt each year. Today, the Salt Girl and signage remain, but much has changed. After Morton Salt ceased operating in the space in 2015, the industrial complex was later reborn as the Salt Shed, a vibrant music venue and creative hub. The adaptive reuse is a stark departure from the complex’s origins.
