The 1892 Democratic National Convention The 1892 Democratic convention was held in a temporary "Wigwam." Located at Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison Streets, the two-story structure was built in 30 days. (CHS) The 1892 Democratic National Convention was held in the "Wigwam," a temporary structure built to house the convention and financed by private Chicago citizens. The first day of the convention was marred by a rainstorm and the Wigwam sprung a leak. Water rushed in on the Tammany delegation from New York and they opened up their umbrellas inside. The platform was adopted on the second day and nominations for candidates began close to midnight and rain continued to fall on the hall. Grover Cleveland was nominated and shortly after his supporters left the floor the roof broke again. The convention did not adjourn and eight other names were submitted in the early morning hours. On June 23, at 3 a.m., balloting began. Cleveland needed 607 and he received 617 ½ votes to secure the nomination on the first ballot. The convention broke up at 4:40 a.m. Cleveland and Adlai Ewing Stevenson went on to win the general election over Benjamin Harrison and Whitelaw Reid.

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