Wicker Park Walk

Joe Steffen will lead a 1.5 hour, 2.2 mile walk through the Wicker Park Landmark District (http://webapps.cityofchicago.org/landmarksweb/web/districtdetails.htm?disId=36), following this route (http://www.walkjogrun.net/routes/current_route.cfm?rid=9DCA8D20-C013-9B09-1FCA7E160A850F6D). Wicker Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicker_Park,_Chicago) began in 1870 as a working-class neighborhood of German and Scandinavian immigrants, joined by a few wealthy foreign-born families who were not welcome in the wealthy neighborhoods of the American-born. I have information about many of the 19th century mansions and townhouses, and we will briefly stop to look at them, including the former homes of novelist Nelson Algren (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Algren) at 1958 Evergreen, and anarchist August Spies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Spies) at 2132 Potomac, who was executed for speaking at the Haymarket Riot (http://history1800s.about.com/od/organizedlabor/a/haymarket01.htm). We will walk even if it is raining, so bring an umbrella or poncho.

Directions: CTA: Take the Blue Line to Damen, and walk 2 blocks south.Driving: There is limited free parking on Schiller St. west of the park.
If you arrive after we have departed, walk 1 block south to Evergreen Ave. and wait for us.

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