Neighborhood Walking Tour of Old Irving Park w/Guide from Chicago for Chicagoans

This is the public tour of my previous 8/5/23 walk that I gave the group. Those who were unable to attend that walk, can now join us for the public tour on 8/27/23 with Giovina Romandine from Chicago for Chicagoans as your local neighborhood tour guides! Patti will join us.

Yes you read that correctly, I am an official tour guide with Chicago for Chicagoans so come join me for a great tour of my northwest side neighborhood! This will cover the historic Old Irving Park neighborhood within the Irving Park community area.

This is slightly different than my private walking tours as you will pay what you can AT THE END of the walk as per Chicago for Chicagoans policy. However YOU MUST REGISTER for the WALK IN ORDER TO ATTEND. PICK SATURDAY 8/27 FOR THE OLD IRVING PARK WALK, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/old-irving-park-walking-tour-tickets-628858130597

Beginning on the famous Irving Park Road we will walk throughout the historic older section of the Irving Park neighborhood. The tour will take you through the rich history of the area, beautiful boulevards, turn of the century architecture, schools and churches.

The tour is approx. 2.1 miles of walking outside so wear good walking shoes and proper outdoor clothing for the Chicago summer weather. Bring water!

Please keep in mind that the tour Ends about 1 block from where we start so park accordingly if you drive. We start at 4200 W. Irving Pk Rd and end at Eris Brewery & Cider house 4240 W Irving Park Rd so it is very short walk back your car depending on where you park.
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After the walk, some of us will get lunch at Eris Brewery & Cider House, a lovely women owned business in OIP inside a historic building. All are welcome to join for lunch! BRING CASH FOR LUNCH AS VENUE DOES NOT ALLOW SEPARATE CHECKS & CASH IS EASIER FOR BIG GROUPS
https://www.erischicago.com/

Old Irving Park is a neighborhood within Chicago’s Irving Park community. Many who live in OIP will tell you they feel like they have the best of both worlds—the conveniences of the city combined with the charm of the suburbs. Iconic Chicago architecture lives in Irving Park, from Victorian mansions to turn-of-the-century bungalows — some buildings predate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

The original name chosen for the suburb was “Irvington” after author Washington Irving, but it was discovered that another town in Illinois had already used the name, so the name “Irving Park” was adopted. The original developers built substantial mansions along Irving Park Boulevard between 1870 and 1874

Initially, Irving Park attracted Chicago's moneyed families seeking large parcels on which to construct mansions. The Great Chicago Fire of October 1871 proved a boon to Irving Park development, as Chicago residents moved in droves to areas outside the city that had not been ravaged. In 1889, Irving Park was annexed into the city of Chicago as part of Jefferson Township. City streets, streetcar service and waterlines lured more residents. Between 1895 and 1914, new owners erected more than 5,000 buildings.

A few places we will stop at:
· 4200 W Irving Park Rd – The Whistle Stop Inn
· 3926 N Keeler - Charles Loucks House
· 3900 N Keeler - C.O. Loucks House
· 3916 N Tripp - Nuveen House
· 3850 N Tripp - Mt Olive Church
· 3801 N Keeler – Irving Park Methodist Church
· 3601 N Milwaukee - Carl Schurz High School
· 4362 W Grace - John Gray House
· 3854 N. Kostner – John & Clara Merchant House
· 3857 N Kostner - St John's Episcopal Church
· 4041 N Lowell - Emeril Jensen House
· 3945 N Tripp - The Race House
· 4251 W Irving Park Rd. - Irving Park YMCA
· 4240 W Irving Park Rd - ERIS Brewery and Cider House

Chicago for Chicagoans was started in 2016 by Patti Swanson. As a tour guide, historian, and preservation enthusiast, Patti likes researching her adoptive city and expressing to other Chicagoans just how cool it really is! The mission of Chicago for Chicagoans is simple: to educate residents about the places they inhabit, creating lifelong bonds and a deeper understanding between people and their spaces.
http://www.chicagoforchicagoans.org

Chicago for Chicagoans is a non for profit 501c organization. If wish to donate (tax deductible), click here: http://www.chicagoforchicagoans.org/donate.html

If you are taking public transportation please use google maps or CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

If you are driving there is street parking along Irving, Keeler, Pulaski & 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!