Architecture and History of the Marquette Building
The Marquette Building, a landmark Chicago skyscraper from 1895, is a stunner. Right in the heart of the Loop, it’s one of the best extant examples of the Chicago School of architecture. Like many of Chicago’s architectural marvels, it fell into a state of neglect in the 20th century. Today, meticulous work has restored the […]
Where’s the Historic Marker for the Infamous 1968 DNC?
The 1968 DNC (Democratic National Convention) is among the most infamous and miserable events in Chicago’s history. Cops beating protestors. “The whole world is watching!” Mayor Daley sweating bullets and cussing out politicians. The DNC felt, still feels, like the culmination of an era. Post-war America ended in a sweaty convention hall and the contentious […]
What’s the Difference Between Chicago Community Areas and Neighborhoods?
As a tour guide in Chicago, I spend much more time talking about Chicago as “city of neighborhoods” than a “city of community areas.” Yet the City of Chicago doesn’t officially acknowledge those neighborhoods. Instead, officially, we have Chicago community areas and aldermanic wards. These subdivisions are sociological and political, created in a think tank […]
Taste of Chicago and the Evolution of Public Festivals
You might not guess it visiting these days, but Taste of Chicago is a real trendsetter. The annual gastronomical extravaganza takes over Grant Park for several days each July. Yes, many locals and tour guides try to steer clear of downtown during the Taste, but it’s also as familiar to Chicagoans as dyeing the river […]
The Evolution of Wolf Point’s Buildings
Wolf Point, the Y-shaped spot where the North, South, and Main Branches of the Chicago River meet, is the at the very heart of Chicago. That junction hosted the first permanent settlement of Native Americans, French-Canadian fur trappers, and American settlers that became the city of Chicago. The ubiquitous Y-shaped municipal device that covers Chicago memorializes this location. […]
Hot Dogs on Memorial Day, Oscar Mayer Has a Way…
Countless Oscar Mayer wieners will be grilled this Memorial Day weekend, though there’s no guarantee that they’ll be prepared as a Chicago style hot dog of course. Oscar Mayer – which originated in Chicago – was a pioneering master at advertising and brand identity. Countless millions consume their hot dogs, sausages, bacon and deli meats. Indeed, Oscar […]
Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the 1893 World’s Fair
The 125th anniversary of the 1893 World’s Fair is this year! In fact, Chicago welcomed visitors from around the world to the opening ceremony of the World’s Columbian Exposition on this day 125 years ago. We explore some of the fair’s incredible legacy during our 1893 World’s Fair Tour every week. The nerds at Chicago Detours […]
Our New Neighborhood, Food & Bar Tours
We are excited to bring you three new private Chicago neighborhood tours. Chicago is, after all, a city of neighborhoods. Each of these tours explores the history, architecture, and food created by the people who live in these distinct, though ever-changing, areas. Think outside of downtown. Think outside of deep-dish and Italian beef. Heck, think […]
Why Isn’t There a Huge Chicago Brewery?
I’ve always been curious why there’s not a gigantic Chicago brewery. Milwaukee has Miller and St. Louis has Anheuser-Busch, but no Chicago brewery has ever come close to the size of those macro-brewery titans. What gives? To find out, I decided to do some research. We research stories from Chicago history, architecture and culture like this […]
Five Reasons to Book a Small Group Private Tour
At Chicago Detours, we offer all kinds of small group private tours by foot and by car, in downtown and in our Chicago neighborhoods. “Small” can get a bad rap, especially in the city of “Big Shoulders,” super tall skyscrapers, almost three million people and one Great Lake. At Chicago Detours we know that even […]