South Side Neighborhoods Tour Questions Answered
One of my favorite of our private tours is the Neighborhoods and Cultural Diversity South Side Tour, because I get to take people to explore some of the South Side neighborhoods where I have lived, worked and studied. Even being a history enthusiast and a Chicago native, I still need to research a question from my tour […]
Celebrate Barack Obama Day At These Presidential Locations
August 4th, 2018 is the first inaugural Barack Obama Day here in Illinois. This new state holiday celebrates President Obama and his time in office. POTUS 44 rose to prominence and began his political career here in Chicago, of course. As only the fourth Illinoisan to become President, he will always have a special place […]
The Chicago Maroons Were the First “Monsters of the Midway”
Football season is kicking off. For countless Chicagoans, that means another season of cheering for the “Monsters of the Midway” aka their beloved Chicago Bears. What many may not realize is that the “Monsters of the Midway” nickname did not originally refer to the Bears. It was the moniker for a different football team: the […]
Designing a University of Chicago Tour
Special for the University of Chicago, we’ve just developed a new tour of the University of Chicago campus and surrounding neighborhoods. The University of Chicago hired us to offer this tour for “Family Weekend,” when parents, siblings and grandparents of undergraduate students come to Hyde Park to learn more about the student experience. While the […]
Historic Chicago Synagogue Architecture at KAM Isaiah Israel
KAM Isaiah Israel is the oldest Jewish congregation in Chicago. Some may know it for as the building with the striking octagonal architecture and dome, located next door to Obama’s house in the Kenwood-Hyde Park neighborhood. The synagogue traces its roots back to the 1841 arrival of the first Jewish settlers in Chicago. My wife works at KAM Isaiah Israel, so […]
Non-Gothic Buildings on the University of Chicago Campus
The University of Chicago campus is justly famous for its Victorian Gothic architecture. The oldest buildings on campus date back to the 1890’s, when the school’s founders set out to imitate Oxford in scholastic rigor and architectural aesthetic. Much of the campus retains that Gothic vibe, but we wanted to explore some of the newer […]
Oriental Institute Museum at U of C: Foto Friday
One of my favorite museums of Chicago is the Oriental Institute Museum at the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park. This great free thing to do in Chicago holds treasures of antiquity from the Ancient Near East, which is roughly what we call today the “Middle East.” Though the Oriental Institute is a small […]
Chicago Folk Festival and Unique Folk Traditions
This weekend is the 54th annual Chicago Folk Festival, hosted by the Chicago Folklore Society. According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, folklore includes “includes legends and stories, folk speech, names and expressions, material culture, foodways, traditions, beliefs, and folk arts.” Chicago has a long line of folk history going all the way back to the origins […]
Researching a Chicago Mystery at State & Madison
Recently, we were asked why State Street was not straight, but jogged over at Madison Avenue. It’s a spot we know well, but couldn’t answer off the top of our heads. So, these past two weeks I’ve been researching Chicago. Usually, the Chicago Detours guides make Chicago architecture and history look easy, but let me […]
More Answers for Our Curious Tour Guests!
On tours, we try to find out answers to your questions if you happen to stump us! For the Loop Interior Architecture Walking Tour: 1. What are the speakers on the top of the First United Methodist Church? Those are for the sound of bells! They ring quarterly from 8am-8pm. 2. Why is there Chinese […]