🏛️🕰️ Strolling Through Kenwood: Mansions, Myths & Megastars 🚶‍♀️🎩

🏛️🕰️ Strolling Through Kenwood: Mansions, Myths & Megastars 🚶‍♀️🎩

🏠📜Kenwood Treasures: A Walk Through Chicago’s Historic South Side

Step into one of Chicago’s most elegant and storied neighborhoods! From Gilded Age mansions and Prairie School gems to Civil Rights icons and President Obama’s former home, this walking tour reveals the rich legacy of Kenwood through architecture, activism, and culture.

📅 Saturday, August 2, 2025
🕛 12:00 PM – approx. 2:00 PM
📍 Start: Blackstone Branch Library, 4904 S. Lake Park Ave
🎯 End: Isidore Heller House, 5132 S. Woodlawn Ave (approx. 6 blocks from start)
💰 Cost: $20 (cash preferred; Zelle, Venmo, PayPal accepted)
🚶‍♀️ Distance: About 2.5 miles outdoors
⚠️ Tip: Walk Ends about 6 blocks from the start — if driving, consider parking midway
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🔎 What You’ll See & Learn:
✅ Stately Gilded Age homes & early Prairie-style architecture
✅ Sites tied to Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, and Julius Rosenwald
✅ Hidden gems by Frank Lloyd Wright, Shaw, and other local legends
✅ Historic houses of worship, activists, educators & entrepreneurs
✅ Insightful storytelling and great company across multiple meetup groups!

📸 It’s not a photo walk but trust us—you’ll want your camera!

🎤 Led by a passionate, knowledgeable guide (that’s me!), this walk is perfect for architecture buffs, history lovers, and curious Chicagoans.
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🏛️ Featured Stops & Highlights Include:
🏛️ Blackstone Branch Library
🧱 George Blossom House (FLW)
🧱 Warren McArthur House (FLW)
🏠 Former Elijah Muhammad House
🏡 Howard Van Doren Shaw House
🥊 Former Muhammad Ali Residence
🏠 Charles Adams Goodyear House
🏠 Ezra S. Brainerd House
🏢 Rainbow PUSH Coalition HQ
🏛️ Julius Rosenwald House
🧱 Gustavus F. Swift Mansion
🧱 Moses Born Residence
🏛️ Martin A. Ryerson House
🧱 McGill House
🦅🏛️Former Obama Family Home
🕍 KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation
🏠 Isidore Heller House (FLW)
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🍽️ Optional Lunch After the Tour
Stick around and grab a bite at one of these local favorites:

• 🥗 Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat (vegan)
• 🥪 Cafe 53
• 🍕 The Sit-Down Cafe

💵 Bring cash for lunch—some spots don’t split checks!
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👟 What to Bring:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water bottle
• Weather-appropriate attire
• $20 tour fee (exact change appreciated; cash preferred but Zelle, Venmo, PayPal accepted)

🚗 Transit & Parking Tips:
• Free & metered street parking available on Lake Park, Woodlawn & side streets—watch signs
• Park midway if you’d like to be close to both start & end
• CTA-accessible – use the CTA Trip Planner for the best route
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📌 RSVP & No-Show Policy
✔️ Please keep your RSVP current
🚫 No-shows make future planning tough
🕛 RSVP updates close at the tour start time
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✨ Discover Kenwood — where elegance, activism, and architectural beauty converge. Come explore the stories behind the stones on this engaging neighborhood walk! 🏛️🌳👟