What You Will Do
One of Chicago’s earliest and most vibrant areas, this cultural melting pot is made up of multiple historic neighborhoods and bustling avenues.
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of its tree-lined streets filled with galleries, local shops, award-winning restaurants, and stunning architecture all unique to this enclave of the city.
Featured on the tour is the longest continually operating settlement house in the country, local art, shops, and a walk through a historic mansion-filled neighborhood.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
Meeting Point
Tours begin in front of the Eckhart Park field house located at 1330 W Chicago Blvd. We meet at the stairs next to the hot dog stand.
1
Eckhart (Bernard) Park
30 minutes
Eckhart Park was built in 1907 to provide breathing space to the overcrowded neighborhood. Start your tour with a stroll through it and hear about the city's park district and its local significance.
2
Northwestern Settlement
30 minutes
Today, the Northwestern Settlement House takes the title as the longest continually operating settlement house in the country. The institution continues to provide family, emergency, and educational services to more than 40,000 people each year.
3
Chipp Inn
Visit one of Chicago's many neighborhood corner bars; The Chipp Inn, which encompasses many aspects of Chicago’s complex relationship with alcohol. Founded in 1897 (some rumor that it goes back to 1874), this side-street dive bar is one of Chicago’s oldest and longest running bars.
4
Epic Spices
15 minutes
Epic Spices is a wholesaler of spices to Chicago’s restaurants. The husband and wife team work directly with farms and brokers to source the highest quality ingredients from around the world.
5
Alcala's Western Wear
15 minutes
Immerse yourself in boot-filled aisles made from various exotic skins, see hand crafted wooden fixtures, and experience a wide selection of stetsons at one of the nation's largest western-wear store. Alcalas's was founded by Luis Alcala who left Arkansas some time in the 1940s and moved to Chicago. From local markets to a city-wide staple, come experience this cultural epicenter.
6
935 N Honore St
30 minutes
A pocket park in an empty lot that we will use to answer questions and take a break.
7
Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
15 minutes
Witness a piece of Siberia on the edge of Chicago's Ukrainian Village. The small but mighty cathedral towers over the area with its golden onion dome dating back to the 1880's, eventually leading to the city's very own saint. Sit on its steps as we walk you through its rich history.
8
2123 W Thomas St
15 minutes
Chicago’s Workers Cottages are a part of the city’s vernacular, an architectural style based on local needs and availability of materials, predominantly built as affordable housing for working and middle-class homeowners from the 1870’s to 1910’s.
9
1407 N Hoyne Ave
1 hour
Walk down this tree-lined street filled with the massive mansions of the past, long known as 'Beer Barron Row' due to its brewing past. This area of Wicker Park was the preferred destination for the so-called brewers of the 1800's. In-fact beer was so significant in Chicago that its first civil disturbance revolved around the beverage: the 1855 Lager Beer Riot.
Show 8 more stops