Historic Prairie Avenue & Motor Row Walking Tour

The walking tour season continues! Join us for a delightful stroll through the historic Prairie Avenue & Motor Row district with a knowledgeable guide, exploring the area's hidden gems and exquisite architecture. It will be a great walk on a lovely warm afternoon to view all the landmarked buildings, exquisite architecture, old churches and former businesses from the past transformed into today’s local fixtures! This is not strictly a photo walk but more of a guided architecture & history walk but there will be lots of photo opportunities! It's a multi-meetup group event!

THIS IS A PAID PRIVATE NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOUR OF THE BEAUTIFUL & HISTORIC PRAIRIE AVENUE & MOTOR ROW DISTRICT WITH AN EXPERT CHICAGO GUIDE. $20 per person. Some of you have done my other neighborhood tours of Old Irving Park, Logan Square, Oak Park, Ukrainian Village Old Town & Portage Park. Please check out another walking tour that I have developed for the Prairie Avenue & Motor Row area.

Beginning on the famous Wheeler Mansion, we will walk throughout the Prairie Avenue & Motor Row district . The tour will take you through the rich history of the area, several famous mansions, interesting architecture, former major business district and a few churches.

The tour is approx. 2.0 miles of walking outside so wear good walking shoes and proper outdoor clothing for the Chicago summer weather.

Please keep in mind that the tour Ends about 6 blocks from where we start so park accordingly if you drive. We start 2020 S Calumet Ave and end at 2420 S. Michigan Ave. so it is an easy walk back your car depending on where you park

BRING WATER, hand sanitizer and good walking shoes. I cannot guarantee how many washroom facilities will be available so please plan accordingly. We will go to Fat Pour Tapworks, Il Culacino or Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar after the walk.

EVENTBRITE NOW REQUIRES THAT I ISSUE TICKETS AND CHARGE UPFRONT ON THEIR PLATFORM. TICKETS ARE $20 PER PERSON AND WILL BE REFUNDABLE IF THE EVENT IS CANCELED BY THE HOST DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER OR IF YOU CANCEL YOUR TICKET 24 HRS BEFORE THE START OF THE WALK~

After the walk, some of us may grab a bite at Fat Pour Tapworks https://fatpourmccormick.com/ or Il Culaccino https://ilculaccino.com/ or Willians Inn Pizza https://www.williamsinnpizza.com/ All are welcome to join!

Prairie Avenue District - This is an area steeped in Chicago's history. In 1812, the area was the site of the so-called Fort Dearborn Massacre. Following the Fire of 1871, this became the city's most fashionable neighborhood, home to the Armour, Field, Kimball, and Pullman families and once referred to as the "sunny street that held the sifted few." Although many of the mansions were demolished in the mid-20th century, the remaining buildings provide a sense of the street's former character. Two individual Landmarks are located within the district: the Clarke House and the Glessner House

Motor Row District: The group of commercial buildings on Chicago's Near South Side is considered to be the largest, intact early "automobile row" in the United States. Auto rows developed in numerous cities shortly after 1900 as car companies sought to create districts where the sale and repair of cars could become an easy urban shopping experience. At its peak, as many as 116 different makes of automobiles were being sold on Motor Row. Some are familiar today, including Ford, Buick, Fiat, and Cadillac, while others are better known to historians and old-car buffs, including Hudson, Locomobile, Marmon, and Pierce-Arrow.

A few places we will stop are:
Wheeler Mansion 2020 S Calumet Ave
Harriet F. Rees House 2017 S. Prairie Ave.
Marshall Fields Mansion 1919 S Prairie Ave
Keith House Chicago, 1900 S Prairie Ave
Coleman-Ames House 1811 S. Prairie Ave
William W. Kimball House 1801 S Prairie Ave
Glessner House, 1800 S Prairie Ave,
Chicago Women's Park & Garden, 1801 S Indiana Ave
Henry B. Clarke House, 1827 S Indiana Ave,
Second Presbyterian Church, 1936 S. Michigan Ave
Locomobile Company 2000 Michigan Avenue
Chess Records, 2120 S Michigan Ave
The Bird-Sykes Company, 2210-12 Michigan avenue
The Hudson Motor 2222-2228 South Michigan Ave
Marmon Car Co 2230 South Michigan Avenue
The Quality Car Co 2329-31 Michigan avenue
Former Illinois Automobile Club at 2400 S. Michigan
Former Joyce Ford (now New City Fiat), 2401 S. Michigan
Pierce Arrow 2420 S. Michigan

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

If you are driving there is street parking along Calumet, Cermak & Indiana Streets plus surrounding side streets but pay attention to parking signs especially permit parking. Lots of permit parking in the area and walk ends about 6 blocks away from the start!

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

How to find us: *TICKETED EVENT PAID IN ADVANCE* Meet outside The Wheeler Mansion 2020 S Calumet Ave - look for the large group gathered, Remember walk ends about 6 blocks from where start! call me at (312) 835-4259 if lost or late

For more info about my meetup group, click on the links below:

https://www.meetup.com/1001-things-to-see-in-chicago-before-you-die/

Host or Publisher 1001 Things to See in Chicago Before You Die