Sat, Nov 8 · 12:00 PM CST
🏛️🚶♀️ Prairie Avenue Uncovered: Gilded Age Glamour & Chicago Legends ✨
Stroll through one of Chicago’s most historic neighborhoods on this guided walk exploring Prairie Avenue’s Gilded Age mansions, landmark churches, and architectural gems. Discover stories of Chicago’s elite, industrial might, and stunning design in a district that defined the city’s rise.
☀️ Still some good walking weather — let’s end the season in style!
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📅 Saturday, November 8, 2025 12:00 PM – 2:15 PM Start: RR Donnelley & Sons Plant, 350 E. Cermak Rd.End: Chess Records, 2120 S. Michigan Ave. (~3 blocks from start)Cost: $20 per person (paid at start — Cash, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo accepted)Distance: ~1.5 miles | Entirely outdoorsNote: The walk ends about 3 blocks from where we start — park in between for an easy return!
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### 🚶♂️ What to Expect
✅ ~1.5 miles of relaxed outdoor walking
🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that’s me!) — perfect for architecture buffs, history lovers, and anyone who loves being a tourist in their own city. We’ll trace Prairie Avenue’s journey from frontier outpost to “the sunny street that held the sifted few.”
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### 🏛️ Stops & Highlights (subject to change)
✨ Wheeler Mansion
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### 🌆 Why Prairie Avenue?
In the late 19th century, Prairie Avenue was the most prestigious address in Chicago — the city’s original “Millionaire’s Row.” After the Great Fire of 1871, the city’s elite fled downtown to build grand mansions along this quiet, tree-lined boulevard just south of the city center. The area offered clean air, proximity to the new Lake Park (later Grant Park), and easy access to downtown via Michigan Avenue and the Illinois Central Railroad.
Between 18th and 22nd Streets, Prairie Avenue became home to industrial titans like George Pullman, Marshall Field, Philip Armour, and John Glessner. Their architects — Henry Hobson Richardson, Solon Beman, and Cobb & Frost — created some of the most magnificent Gilded Age residences in the Midwest.
By the early 1900s, however, heavy industry moved nearby and families relocated to the Gold Coast and suburbs. Many mansions were lost, but a few survived — giving rise to today’s Prairie Avenue Historic District, one of Chicago’s best-preserved glimpses into its Gilded Age wealth, architecture, and ambition.
### 🍽️ Optional After-Tour Bites & Drinks
Stick around for food or drinks nearby — a great chance to socialize after our stroll!Fat Pour Tapworks Il Culaccino Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar Bring cash if joining — some places don’t split checks!
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### 👟 What to Bring
✅ Comfortable walking shoes
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### 🚗 Parking & Transit Tips
• Street parking available on Calumet, Cermak, Indiana & side streets (watch permit signs)
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### 📌 RSVP & Courtesy Policy
✅ Keep your RSVP updated — spots are limited!
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Come experience the hidden history, Gilded Age architecture, and fascinating stories of Prairie Avenue on this guided fall afternoon walk.
✨ Space is limited — RSVP now and join us for this unique neighborhood adventure! 🏛️🚶♀️✨
