Chicago's Near North Side Walking Tour

Entries on This Tour

Located in the Near North Side neighborhood within its Magnificent Mile district, Chicago’s famous Water Tower remains a symbol of its pre-Great Fire past. Constructed in 1869, it held pumps to draw water from Lake Michigan as well as tall standpipes that could provide high-pressures for firefighting as well as regulate water surges. Architect William Boyington designed the building almost entirely with Joliet limestone in his famous castellated Gothic Revival style. Because of the Water Tower being constructed primarily of stone, it was one of the few to survive the Great Fire of 1871. The building underwent two renovations during the 20th-century, first between 1913-1916 and the second during 1978. The Water Tower is now an art gallery for the Chicago Office of Tourism and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 23, 1975.

2. American Fore Building

Built in 1923, the American Fore Building stands a a reminder of Chicago's transition from growing city to an established metropolis in need of urban planning and an expansion of its business district. As a result, Chicago widened Michigan Avenue and constructed a bridge across the Chicago river that opened its North Side, allowing for the development of such buildings at the American Fore Building and a slew of white-collar industries, such as banking, insurance, wholesale commerce, hotels and more. Over time, the entire northern section of Chicago grew tremendously, with Michigan Ave (and Rush Street) servicing as the city's most popular tourist destination.

3. Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago

The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago is the second oldest building on Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River. The only building that is older is the Water Tower, which precedes the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It was built as a worship place for Chicago's Presbyterian citizens, and it still operates as a fully functioning church, growing even larger in its activities than it was when it was first constructed. "A Light in the City," as the church calls itself, has been serving the community of Chicago since it's founding in 1871, although the building itself was constructed in 1914. This enormous religious structure is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

4. John Hancock Center

Although many confuse the Hancock Center and the Sears Tower (both are Black super-towers in Chicago), the Hancock Center is unique in that it is a single tapered tower while the Sears Tower consists of several individual towers that give the structure its collective strength. With a single steel exoskeleton with a tapered shape, the 100-story tower is visibly unique from all other buildings in Chicago.

5. The Palmolive Building (A.K.A. Playboy Building)

Built in 1929 at the tail end of a long period of economic growth and construction in Chicago, this served as the home to the Palmolive-Peet-Colgate company for only five years although the company continued to own the building until 1943. Hugh Hefner and his Playboy Enterprises began leasing the company in 1965 and for awhile, the Playboy name was illuminated at the top of the building. Atop the building, a powerful beacon named after famed pilot Charles Lindbergh was put in place to help traffic into Chicago's Midway Airport, but it also helped turn the building into a highly-recognizable landmark along Chicago's Lake Michigan shoreline. The light shines today atop what is now a building filled with high-end condominiums. The Palmolive Building is renowned among architectural historians for its stepped design and Art Deco features.

6. Drake Hotel Chicago

This historic Chicago hotel opened on New Years Eve in 1920. The hotel's construction was financed by John B. Drake and the hotel soon earned a reputation as one of the centers of Chicago social life with its afternoon tea service and dinners and cocktails at the Cape Cod Room. Hilton acquired the property in the 1980s.

7. Bryan Lathrop House

This home was constructed in 1891 for the family of businessman and philanthropist Bryan Lathrop. Like many who built mansions along Chicago's Gold Coast Bryan at the turn-of-the-century, Lathrop's influence in Chicago is striking. As a real-estate mogul, he proved instrumental in the development of Graceland Cemetery, the resting place for some of Chicago's most famous citizens. As well, he served as President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and provided more than $700,000 (1910 value) to the cause. Much of his artwork and library found its way to the Art Institute of Chicago and the Newberry Library. Meanwhile, his house that he shared with his wife Helen, stands as a reminder of the growth of the Gold Coast, an area noted for its abundance of wealthy residents.

8. William Waller House (A.K.A. Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts)

The Waller House emerged during Chicago's expansive rebuild following the Great Fire of 1871. The house, built in 1875-1876, was located in one of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods, now known as "The Gold Coast." Besides standing as a monument to those two histories, from 1921 until today, it has served as the center for the Palette & Chisel Art Academy, part of a long historical tie between the art community and the Gold Coast.

9. Burlingham Building (A.K.A. Henrotin Hospital Professional Building)

Constructed in 1883 for Dentist Luke Burlingham, who maintained his offices on the first floor with apartments located on the floors above, this building which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is historically significant for its architecture as it reflects an innovative and functional design that would come to typify building design in cities in future decades. The building's location on Clark Street speaks to the nature of Chicago's near north side development, notably after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Middle Class and profoundly wealthy residents lived east of Clark near Lake Michigan and along the Chicago River to the south, while laborers lived east, close to the industrial districts -- Clark Street served as the buffer zone, consisting of apartments and service industries. Two additional floors were added in 1897.

10. Newberry Library

The Newberry Library is a private, independent research library in Chicago that began operations in 1887 thanks to an endowment from Walter L. Newberry. Newberry amassed a fortune in real estate and railroads and donated a portion of that fortune to create a substantial library for the city of Chicago. The research library specializes in materials related to the humanities and supporting the work of humanities scholars with programs, grants, and a collection of over million books and documents. The library's collection is known to scholars around the world and its non-circulating collection includes many rare materials dating as far back as the Middle Ages. The library holds thousands of rare books and millions of original documents related to early American history, European history, and Western culture. The library operates a wide variety of programs to encourage public engagement and research. These programs include lectures, classes, and fellowship opportunities opportunities for scholars.

11. Isaac N. Maynard Rowhouses (119, 121, and 123 Delaware Street, Chicago)

The Isaac N. Maynard Rowhouses, built in 1880-81 by Issac N. Maynard, consist of three groups of connected rowhouses. Maynard, who made his fortune in Chicago's burgeoning pig iron industry, was one of many developers who helped rebuild the residential area around Washington Square after the Great Chicago Fire, which mostly consisted of affluent residents.

12. Bush Temple of Music

At the turn of the century, pianos became the first luxury item to reach a mass market and Chicago was second only to New York in piano production. The Bush and Gerts Piano Company was one of the most prominent piano manufactures in the city, and the Bush Temple, which was built as a showroom for the company in 1902, reflects that status. The building served as a sales floor and provided office spaces, but it was best known for its auditorium, recital halls, banquet hall, restaurant, shops, and studio spaces. Prospective piano buyers from all across the country came to this space for the experience of buying a piano.

13. Holy Name Cathedral

Built in 1875, four years after the Great Chicago Fire, Holy Name Cathedral sits on Chicago's famous State Street amidst Chicago's towering skyscrapers. Holy Name operates as the seat for the Chicago Archdioceses, one of the largest and most influential Roman Catholic archdioceses in the United States. It also serves as a reminder of the influence of the church in Chicago and its neighborhoods, which increasingly grew Catholic as Germans, Irish, Polish and other immigrants from predominantly Catholic nations arrived in Chicago.

14. Driehaus Museum

The Driehaus Museum was founded by the Philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus in 2003. The museum is housed in the former home of banker Samuel Mayo Nickerson, and underwent a five-year restoration before becoming the museum. The museum offers original furnishings and historic pieces from the Driehaus Collection of Fine Arts. The Driehaus Museum also features an extensive collection of fine furnishing from the turn of the 19th century into the new millennium of the 20th century.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Chicago's Near North Side Walking Tour

Created by Clio Admin on June 3rd 2018, 11:50:30 am.

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Description

This tour starts at the Chicago Water Tower which helped stem the destruction of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and includes landmarks, museums, and historic buildings throughout Chicago's Near North Side. Highlights of the tour include the Newberry Library, the Drake Hotel, the Driehaus Museum, and Chicago's iconic skyscraper that was long known as the John Hancock Center. For art lovers, the tour begins and ends just a few blocks from the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Entries on This Tour

Chicago's Near North Side Walking Tour

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