🌸 Petals & Porticos: Walking Logan Square’s Grand Boulevards 🏛️

🌸 Petals & Porticos: Walking Logan Square’s Grand Boulevards 🏛️ A Springtime Stroll Through History and Architecture

Celebrate the season with a guided walk through one of Chicago’s most architecturally and historically rich neighborhoods. As spring brings the boulevards into bloom, we’ll explore the heart of Logan Square’s Historic Boulevard District—where elegant homes, lush landscaping, and landmark monuments tell the story of a community shaped by design, diversity, and time.

This curated walk will highlight the area’s signature blend of Prairie, Queen Anne, and Romanesque architecture, while tracing the evolution of the boulevard system that connects Chicago’s past to its present.

Along the way, we’ll take in the beauty of the season: flowering trees, vibrant gardens, and the timeless charm of Logan Square’s iconic porticos.

Tour highlights include:
🏛️ Architectural gems dating from the 1880s to the 1930s
🦅 The Illinois Centennial Monument and its symbolic carvings
🌳 Landscaped medians and spring blossoms lining the boulevards
📚 Stories of the people, homes, and movements that shaped the area

Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, a sense of curiosity, and an appreciation for history in full bloom.

Join us for a private walking tour of Logan Square and experience one of Chicago’s most architecturally rich and culturally vibrant neighborhoods. For just $20 per person, this guided tour offers an insider’s look at Logan Square’s fascinating past and dynamic present. Together, we’ll explore grand boulevards, striking churches, historic schools, and tucked-away residential gems that give the neighborhood its unmistakable character. Led by a knowledgeable and passionate guide, this walk will illuminate the stories behind the area’s unique architecture, its role in the city’s development, and the people who’ve shaped it over time. Spots are limited—reserve yours today!

Beginning on the iconic Logan Boulevard, this walking tour explores the historic northwest section of the Logan Square Town neighborhood. As we stroll through this architecturally rich area, we’ll uncover the neighborhood’s fascinating past—from its early business district to its grand boulevards and stunning turn-of-the-century homes

Please note that the tour ends approximately 0.75 miles from the starting point, so plan your parking accordingly if you are driving. We begin at St. John Berchmans Catholic Church, located at 2519 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, and conclude at Aloft Circus Arts, situated at 3324 W Wrightwood Ave. Depending on where you park, it may require some walking back to your car. I recommend finding a parking spot in the middle to minimize your walk back.

To join this engaging experience, a $20 fee is due at the start of the tour (cash, PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo accepted). Come discover the rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture of one of Chicago’s most beloved neighborhoods. Whether you're a lifelong Chicagoan or a curious newcomer, this walk offers a fresh perspective on Logan Square—explored through the lens of history, design, and seasonal beauty. Lace up your walking shoes and make your Saturday unforgettable!

After the walk, some of us may grab a bite at The Harding Tavern, 2732 N Milwaukee Ave https://thehardingtavern.com/ OR Café Con Leche 2714 N Milwaukee Ave, https://www.cafeconlechels.com/ OR Chiqueolatte Chicago 2643 N Milwaukee Ave, https://chiqueolattelogansquare.square.site/

All are welcome to join! BRING CASH IF JOINING FOR LUNCH, AS SOME VENUES DON'T ACCEPT SEPARATE CHECKS!

Named for Civil War general and statesman John A. Logan, Logan Square is home to one of Chicago’s most striking intersections—a grand convergence of Logan Boulevard, Kedzie Boulevard, and Milwaukee Avenue. At its heart lies the Illinois Centennial Monument, an iconic column erected in 1918 to celebrate 100 years of Illinois statehood. The square itself was thoughtfully designed by leading minds of the era, including architect William Le Baron Jenney and landscape architect Jens Jensen, as the northwest terminus of the city’s elegant Boulevard System.

Our walk begins here and winds through the neighborhood's rich past—stretching back to early settlements like Jefferson, Maplewood, and Avondale, which were annexed to Chicago in 1889. We'll explore the area's transformation from prairie land to a bustling residential enclave, home to early immigrants of English, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, and Jewish descent.

Along the way, you’ll learn how Milwaukee Avenue, one of Chicago’s oldest roads, became the community’s central cultural and commercial corridor. From monumental architecture to immigrant roots, this tour will uncover the layers of history that make Logan Square one of the city's most storied and beloved neighborhoods.

We will make a few stops at the following places:
2519 W Logan Blvd - St John Berchmans Catholic Church
2703 W Logan Blvd, - John Rath House
2735 W Logan Blvd, - Ryan House
2900 W. Logan Blvd - Episcopal Church of the Advent - Now Condos
2934-2936 W. Logan Blvd - Gerson Apartment Building
2940 W Logan Blvd, - Uber House or Uber Flats
2954 W. Logan Blvd. – The S. Finchell House
3024 W Logan Blvd, - Rustman Ice House
3040 W Logan Blvd, The T. Steinbach House
3061 W Logan Blvd, Former Logan Square Trust & Savings Bank Bldg
2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Comfort Station
2539 N Kedzie Blvd, Logan Square Auditorium
2614 N Kedzie Ave -The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church
3150 W Logan Blvd - Illinois Centennial Monument
3325 W Wrightwood Ave, Grace United Methodist Church
3324 W Wrightwood Ave. Aloft Circus Arts

If you are taking public transportation, please check their website for directions or use Google Maps or the CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

If you are driving, there is street parking along Milwaukee, Logan Blvd, Kedzie & surrounding side streets, but pay attention to parking signs, especially permit parking

PLEASE KEEP RSVP UP TO DATE AND DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!