A Stroll in Chicago鈥檚 Old Town, Chicago, Illinois

Old Town is not, somewhat to my surprise, the old heart of Chicago, but rather one of its neighbourhoods. It takes its name from art fairs held in this area in the 1940s, 鈥極ld Town Holidays鈥�. However, it is certainly home to many buildings older than most in the city. There are Victorian era houses and even one of just seven buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

With my Virtual Tourist friends I joined a walking tour of the neighbourhood one morning to learn more. We started at Sedgwick station on the Brown line of the L. Come along with me to see what Old Town has to offer 鈥�

Almost immediately we were on quiet streets that contrasted significantly with the bustle of the River North area where we were staying, just one stop away on the L. They were lined with lovely old houses, some wooden despite a ban on using that material following the fire. I got the impression that Old Towners like to defy the rules and conventions. The streets here don鈥檛 always follow the grid pattern of the rest of the city. And the area has often attracted those who seek an alternative lifestyle: hippies, gays and lesbians, sex workers, artists and performers. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).

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Guide Name: A Stroll in Chicago鈥檚 Old Town
Guide Location: USA » Chicago
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Sarah Wilkie
Read it on Author's Website:
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:

Sedgwick station
Twin Anchors
St. Michael鈥檚 church
Lincoln Park
Chicago History Museum
Children鈥檚 Fountain
Second City
N Wells Street

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