In Person Walking Tour: Prairie Avenue - Splendor and Scandal

205 E 18th,Chicago IL 60607

22 August, 2021

Description

Incredible architecture and even MORE incredible stories in the jewel of Gilded Age Chicago. Pioneers, robber barons, movie stars and more! The old Prairie Avenue Millionaire District was the jewel of gilded age Chicago, where industrialists threw parties that cost more than their employees would make in three lifetimes. But strange history permeates the area, and scandal was always lurking below the surface. .. From the magnificent architecture of the mansions and the tales of 19th century elegance to stories of murder, mayhem, and silent film starlets who came to tragic ends, the stories spread across a few blocks just south of the Chicago loop are endless. There are tales of early settlers, robber barons (and their no-good kids), an abandoned cemetery, silent film stars, heroes, villains, gangsters, and more. Tour guide ADAM SELZER is the author of HH HOLMES: THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE WHITE CITY DEVIL, MYSTERIOUS CHICAGO, and many other books, including an upcoming book on Graceland Cemetery (Univ of IL Press, 2022), and appears regularly on the History and Travel channels . His tours are ridiculously informative, endlessly fascinating, and often hilarious - all based on deep research in the archive, not just urban legends. (It was reported in the 1950s that Al Capone tried to buy one of these mansions; that's pretty early for a Capone story, but it doesn't mean it's true!) WHAT TO KNOW:  - Meet outside the Spoke and Bird, 205 E. 18th. Find the guy with the headset mic who will be checking people in. - The walk will cover about a mile altogether. - Our tours typically run 75-90 minutes, but this being a brand new one, we're not sure of the timeline! - Tour will run rain or shine.  - Bathrooms are hard to come by, as the whole tour is outside. PARKING Parking can be tricky in the area, though once the brunch crowd has died down street parking may be easier. Though much of the street parking is free on Sundays (if you can find it), we recommend the SpotHero app to find a good deal on lots or garages nearby. There are paid garages at 2050 S Indiana, 2138 S Indiana, or the Sky55 garage at 1255 S Michigan. The app can get you lots of "under the El" spots for around six bucks.