Chicagoland has something for everyone, especially history buffs. From the Great Chicago Fire to the World's Fair, remnants of Chicago's past are everywhere — and it's the perfect time of year to visit some of the Chicagoland area's best historical sites.
These are some of the historic landmarks in Chicagoland that our real estate agents think should be on your list this year.
The Rookery Building - 209 S La Salle St, Chicago, IL 60604
Dating back to 1888, the Rookery Building is a historic office building located in the Financial District within the Chicago Loop. It was designed by the famed architects Daniel Burnham and John Wellborn Root and is considered one of their signature works. The Rookery Building is Chicago's oldest high-rise and is doubly significant thanks to its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed lobby.
St. James Cathedral - 65 E Huron St, Chicago, IL 60611
Just a few blocks west of the Magnificent Mile, the towering spires of St. James Cathedral make it one of the city's most recognizable churches. Originally built in 1835, it's the oldest Episcopal church in the city. Only the bell tower of the church is part of the original structure, which was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Look closely, and you'll see the black burn marks on the stones of the bell tower.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry - 5700 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637
The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 — better known as the Chicago World's Fair — remains one of the most storied events in the city's history. The fairgrounds were hastily constructed, and relatively few buildings survive, but the ornate Beaux-Arts style building that was then called the Palace of the Fine Arts has been maintained. Today it houses the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in what is now the Hyde Park neighborhood.
Noble-Seymour-Crippen House - 5624 N Newark Ave, Chicago, IL 60631
Chicago's oldest house and also the oldest building of any kind in the city is the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House. Originally a brick farmhouse, the landmark is tucked away in the Norwood Park neighborhood, where it houses the headquarters of the Norwood Park Historical Society.
Rosehill Cemetery Entrance - 5800 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Founded in 1859, Rosehill Cemetery is among Chicago's oldest cemeteries. A fixture of the Lincoln Square neighborhood, the cemetery is most famous for its ornate entrance gate, which was added in 1864. Designed by notable Chicago architect William W. Boyington and built out of Joliet limestone, the Rosehill Cemetery entrance gate is a rare example of castellated Gothic architecture in the Midwest.
The Green Door Tavern - 678 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654
One way to celebrate Chicago's history is to raise a glass in its oldest watering hole: the Green Door Tavern. Located in the River North neighborhood, the building that houses the Green Door Tavern was built in 1872, just a year after the destruction of the Great Chicago Fire. It was initially opened as a neighborhood grocery and later became a tavern in 1921, which it's been to this day.
Grosse Point Lighthouse - 2601 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL 60201
A short drive north of Chicago in the suburb of Evanston, the historic Grosse Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1873 after several notable shipping disasters took place in the area. Its iconic light tower and outbuildings overlook the rocky shoreline of Lake Michigan and are open to the public for tours on summer weekends.
Contact us today to learn more about life in Chicago. From the suburbs to the heart of the city, our real estate agents are here to help you find your perfect home in any Chicagoland neighborhood.
