They were built from 1890–1899, designed by Holabird & Roche for the three millinery firms - Gage, Keith and Ascher.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 14, 1985, and was designated a Chicago Landmark on September 11, 1996.

The façades of these buildings demonstrate two different approaches to the Chicago School, a design movement that led to the creation of modern commercial architecture.

The buildings by Holabird & Roche are straightforward, while the facade designed by Sullivan exemplifies his more expressive approach.

The ornamental flourishes at the top of Sullivan's façade were pushed upwards when four stories were added in 1902 by different architects.