Category Archives: John V. Bennes

John V. Bennes – the Father of the Grand Staircase The Grand Staircase was the creative work of renown Oregon architect, John Virginius Bennes. Bennes was born August 23, 1867 in rural Illinois. As a child, he moved with his family to Chicago.  Bennes studied architecture at Prague University, graduating in 1890.  Other information indicatesContinue reading “John Virginius Bennes”