Chicago's Road to Building Its First Subways

The Union League Club of Chicago and the Transportation Subcommittee

present

Chicago's Road to Building Its First Subways

Thursday, April 23, 2026

11:00 am -11:30 am | Archival Display Opens

11:30 am – 1:15 pm | Luncheon "In Conversation with CTA's Graham Garfield"

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Vintage CTA Heritage Fleet Ride on the Green Line

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | After-Work Reception with the Transit Archives in the ULCC Library

Union League Club of Chicago

65 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, Illinois

Join us for a full-day celebration of Chicago's rich transportation history. The Union League Club, Transport Chicago, and Young Professionals in Transportation have partnered to bring together the business and transportation planning communities for an event that is equal parts history, experience, and conversation.

The day begins with a luncheon conversation featuring the CTA's Graham Garfield, who will explore how Chicago — decades behind Boston, New York, and Philadelphia — finally built its first subway system in 1943, tracing the failed plans, political battles, and funding challenges that preceded it. The presentation takes a uniquely local angle, drawing on the Union League Club's own rarely seen archival record of these early proposals and the business community's stance on them.

Following the luncheon, registered guests are invited to board vintage CTA Heritage Fleet cars for a rare ride through the city on preserved historic transit vehicles. The day concludes with an after-work reception featuring remarks from ULCC Archivist Cheryl Ziegler and an opportunity to explore the Club's transportation archives firsthand in a more intimate setting.

Whether you're a transportation professional, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about how Chicago came to be the city it is, this is a rare opportunity to experience that story from multiple angles — over a meal, on the rails, and in the archives. Proceeds from the event support the Heritage Fleet's ongoing preservation mission.

Cost: Lunch - $50.00

Lunch and Heritage Train ride - $100.00

Reception and Heritage Train ride - $110.00

Reception - $55.00Discover

Space is limited. Advance registration is required.

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Host or Publisher Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research