The Chicago Federal Center (1974). It is comprised of three buildings designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The Dirksen Building (left) houses many of Chicago's important courts and is the de facto county courthouse. Consequently, it is the setting of some of Chicago's most notorious chapters, including the recent convictions of governors Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan. The Kluczynski Building to the right, also houses several important federal functions, and was the location of Barack Obama's presidential transition offices. The comparatively short building to the front is the post office for the Loop. The Federal Center is also famous as the site of the Flamingo, a bright-orange Alexander Calder sculpture. Cook County was founded in 1831, split off from Putnam County. It was named after Daniel Pope Cook, one of the first U.S. Representatives from Illinois. He died four years prior to the designation of the county.

This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 08001165.