| The U505 in its original resting place since the late 1940s the war trophy has sat exposed to the elements. |
Time and rust have taken a toll on the ancient relic.
This is the south end or rear of the Museum of science and Industry, However during the worlds fair it was the main
entrance from the lagoon. Now it is a seldom seen, little used view of the only remaining buildiing from the 1893
Columbian Exposition. the U505s first home was here along the west side of the main building.
This is the south end or rear of the Museum of science and Industry, However during the worlds fair it was the main
entrance from the lagoon. Now it is a seldom seen, little used view of the only remaining buildiing from the 1893
Columbian Exposition. the U505s first home was here along the west side of the main building.
Major changes takeing place around the museum over the past few years include an underground parking garage, Parking used to
be above ground and in the front of the museum and parking was free. The Museum has always seemed a little out of place so far
away from the Museum campus, as it is known now. but It has Always been a Gem of the south side, barely escaping the weaking
ball in 1910.
be above ground and in the front of the museum and parking was free. The Museum has always seemed a little out of place so far
away from the Museum campus, as it is known now. but It has Always been a Gem of the south side, barely escaping the weaking
ball in 1910.
| Battle scars still evident by the soft ball size holes in its exterior The U505 was a Prize that was not greeted as well as one might think. The United States did not want Germany to know it had captured the Sub. The reason was the breaking of the Enigma machine codes earlier. As long as Germany did not know the codes had been broken It game the Allies a chance to stay one step ahead of the enemy. However with the capture of a U boat with a Enigma machine on board would certianly alert Germany of the compromise and prompt them to change the codes. Causing the Allies to lose months of labor intensive decodeing and a tactical advantage against the Enemy. |
| The moving of the U505 is a labor intensive time consuming effort. Moving only inches at a time it has taken days for the Sub to be moved to the front of the Museum. Nerves were frazzeled enough at this point but the moving over and lowering into a crypt over 100 feet deep had to give the engineers nightmares. This is a priceless irreplaceable relic from our past a momument both to technology and mans quest to destroy his fellow man. |
Just North of the Museum underpasses are being built
and Changes are being made to Lake Shore Dr.
and Changes are being made to Lake Shore Dr.
| I see the placement of the U505 in this pit as a burial of sorts, It will never see the light of day again. I cannot help but to reflect on the Pharaoh's tombs and their need to cover and conceal all that was valued to them...upon their deaths. Perhaps it is all for the future, maybe one day it may be all that left to show that people ever lived here, dug up by some future explorers. I would imagine the ancient Egyptians never believed their world look as it does today. With state sponsoring of tombs being openly dug up for the sake of preserving and discovering history. |
| Once a Monument to a war time victory. Now in its new home the U505 now takes on the title / and form of an Exhibit. Some how it takes some of the effect of history away for me. If it could have encased above ground in a transparent dome, or in the lagoon next to the museum It would have keep its historical momentous effect. I think this is a good example of great engineers, however the museum would have done well to ask Chicagos rich pool of artists for their concepts of what would have made a good new home for the ancient war relic. |
| Workers building a steel frame over the U505 to support the roof have a visually precarious job, one that would require nerves of steel. Iron man Lenny is one of these men. Below is the planned exhibit, I think it would be helped with the addition of a glass block roof with a irregular glass block shape to simulate water. To me one of the measures for being a monument it for it to sit in the light of day. It should always be viewable from the outside. |
| Artist conception of the completed exhibit |
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