Category: History of Chicago
Hotel Julian Chicago: From Demolition-danger to Luxurious Lodgings
How an abandoned building designed by one of Chicago’s preeminent architects found new life.
Fortitude and Grit: the Story of Chicago’s Oldest House
The Clarke House Museum tells a remarkable story.
Explore Chicago’s Past at Chicago History Museum
The Chicago History Museum showcases the city’s complicated history and is itself a piece of history. Chicago has a lively past, with tragedy, innovation, and a cast of characters that could fill (and have) several novels. The museum began when Chicago didn’t have much history itself. It was founded in 1856 as the Chicago Historical…
The Curses and Legends of Billy Goat Tavern
Few restaurants or bars are as famous, or as infamous, as Chicago’s Billy Goat Tavern. It’s a tourist destination and a haven for local reporters.
The Chicago Theatre: Chicago’s Comeback Kid
If there’s one theater that says Chicago, it is, quite literally, The Chicago Theatre.
Exploring the Past on the Magnificent Mile
Take a step back to yesteryear with these pieces of Chicago’s history. Start where it all began at Pioneer Court.
Buckingham Fountain: A Sister’s Love & A City’s Front Door
Buckingham Fountain, the centerpiece of Grant Park, is one of the most spectacular landmarks in Chicago and one of the largest fountains in the world.
Chicago Cultural Center: The People’s Palace
The Chicago Cultural Center is a downtown landmark and one of Chicago’s brightest gems. Known as The People’s Palace, it was the nation’s first free municipal cultural venue, and today its programming in the arts makes it one of the most popular attractions in the city. A Brief History of the Chicago Cultural Center The building was…
John “Bathhouse” Coughlin: Masseur, Alderman and … Poet?
Chicago’s history is full of colorful characters.
The Everleigh Club
Circa 1900Admission: $10Bottle of Champagne : $12Dinner: $50A night in the Everleigh Club: Priceless
Hilton Chicago
The Hilton Chicago overlooks Grant Park in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. Located on Michigan Avenue, the grand hotel is one of the city’s largest. In addition to being a favorite among conventioneers, it holds the distinction of hosting every United States President since it opened in 1927 until President Barack Obama. The building that houses…
Michigan Avenue Bridge
The Michigan Avenue Bridge was built in 1920 to connect the north and south sides of Chicago with a grand boulevard. The bridge was part of Daniel Burnham’s Plan Of Chicago, an ambitious vision that encouraged modernization of the civic infrastructure. A New Type Of Bridge The Michigan Avenue Bridge is a double-deck trunnion bascule…
