🏛️ 🚶‍♀️ Gilded Age Glamour: Prairie Avenue Architecture & History Tour✨

Details

🏛️ 🚶‍♀️ Gilded Age Glamour: Prairie Avenue Architecture & History Tour ✨

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.
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📅 Saturday, July 19, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Start: RR Donnelly & Sons Plant 350 E Cermak
🎯 End: Chess Records, 2120 S Michigan Ave, (~3 blocks away from start)
💥 Cost: $20 per person (paid at start — Cash, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo accepted)
🚶‍♀️ Distance: Approx. 1.5 miles outdoors
⚠️ Note: The walk ends about 3 blocks from where we start. Plan parking accordingly—it’s an easy walk back if you park in between.
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🚶‍♂️ What to Expect
✅ ~1.5 miles of relaxed outdoor walking
✅ Gilded Age mansions & landmark churches
✅ Chicago industrial & business history
✅ Surviving architecture from Prairie Avenue’s golden era
✅ Stories of Pullman, Armour, Field & other Chicago titans

📸 While not a formal photo walk, there will be plenty of incredible architecture and historic spots to snap!

Multi-meetup groups will be attending!

Led by an official, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable guide (that’s me!), this tour will trace Prairie Avenue’s journey from an 1800s frontier to Chicago’s “sunny street that held the sifted few,” packed with fascinating local history.
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🏛️ Stops & Highlights
✨ Wheeler Mansion – 2020 S Calumet Ave
🏠 Harriet F. Rees House
🏛️ Marshall Field Jr. Mansion
🪑 Glessner House (exterior)
⚔️ Battle of Fort Dearborn Park
🌳 Chicago Women's Park & Gardens
🌳 The Battle of Fort Dearborn Park
🏠 Henry B. Clarke House (exterior)
🏭 RR Donnelley & Sons Plant
🚗 BF Goodrich Co Building
⛪ Second Presbyterian Church
🏛️ And more landmark homes & buildings!
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🍽️ Optional After-Tour Bites & Drinks
After our walk, all are welcome to join for food or drinks at one of these nearby spots:
🍺 Fat Pour Tapworks
🍝 Il Culaccino
🍕 Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar
⚠️ Bring cash if joining for lunch—some places don’t do separate checks!
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👟 What to Bring
✅ Good walking shoes
✅ Water
✅ Hand sanitizer
✅ Weather-appropriate clothing for a Chicago summer day
💵 Cost: $20 per person – please pay at the start of the tour (Cash, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo accepted)
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🚗 Parking & Transit Tips
• Street parking on Calumet, Cermak, Indiana & side streets (watch permit signs)
• Remember: The Tour ends ~3 blocks from where we start, so plan parking accordingly
• Easy CTA access—check your route with the CTA Trip Planner
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📌 RSVP & No-Show Policy
✅ Please keep your RSVP up to date.
✅ No-shows without updates make planning harder for everyone.
✅ Cutoff time to update your RSVP is the event start time.
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Come experience the hidden history, Gilded Age architecture, and fascinating stories of Prairie Avenue on this guided summer morning walk.