2018 Badass Women of Chicago History Event Recap
Our Badass Women of Chicago History event on Monday, March 26, 2018, was awesome in many ways. An Awesome Audience Two hours before the event, we sold-out. Luckily we had a few standing room tickets available at the door. We were in an open space at the Den Theatre with a capacity of 75 seats. For […]
Five Real Historic Irish Pubs in Chicago
Irish pubs are the stalwarts of Chicago’s drinking scene. Easily found in many parts of town, these public houses are an abode of questionably-authentic Irish drinks and décor. Only some historic Irish pubs really love up to the name, though. So we tracked down five authentically historic pubs filled with craic. The lovely dives we’ve rustled […]
Jackson Park and the Battle Over Historic Preservation
Jackson Park is currently the focal point of a contentious civic debate. The Obama Presidential Center and a new Tiger Woods-branded golf course are about to remake the historic park. Preservationists, most notably Preservation Chicago, and neighborhood community groups have been pushing back against these plans. I attended Preservation Chicago’s announcement of its annual endangered […]
Presidential Architecture and History at the Blackstone Hotel
The Blackstone Hotel, known as the “Hotel of Presidents” has long been one of the most prestigious spots in Chicago. Located on Michigan Avenue in the South Loop, where we often lead custom private tours, the grand hotel has hosted a dozen U.S. Presidents and countless celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe, since its construction in […]
The Forgotten Chinatown in Downtown Chicago
Chicago’s Chinatown is one of the city’s densest and busiest neighborhoods. Located on the South Side, it’s the beating heart of Chicago’s Chinese community. But it’s not the first such Chinese neighborhood in the city. The original and now-forgotten Chinatown is right on the southern edge of the Loop, hidden behind the financial district. Sadly, […]
Chicago History Books for Your Holiday Gift List
It’s hard for me to imagine a better holiday gift than good Chicago history books. They hold the promise of gripping narratives, undiscovered facts, and greater perspective and understanding. It’s like manna from heaven for big ol’ history and architecture nerds, like yours truly. But which Chicago history books are worth gifting? To help you […]
Underground Chicago: Exploring The Hidden Layers of the City
The term ‘Chicago architecture’ usually evokes images of soaring skyscrapers, but the architecture of underground Chicago is fascinating and essential in its own right. Virtually unknown layers of tunnels, passages, sewers, pipes, and other infrastructure crisscross below the city. We research stories from Chicago history, architecture and culture like this while developing our live virtual tours, in-person […]
Questions from our World’s Fair Tour on Today’s Anniversary
In the 18 months since it launched, we’ve had tons of guests discover a huge piece of Chicago’s history on our “1893 World’s Fair Tour with Bars.” As anyone who has joined us knows, our guides always encourage questions from guests. Accordingly, we’ve been doing some fun research on the questions from our World’s Fair […]
Announcing the Chicago Detours Scholarship for Local History Students
We have some cool news to share! Our tour guides are very proud to help spread the word about the Chicago Detours scholarship for local history students. We want to support awesome scholars in Chicago history. And we’re also rolling out a grant program for local non-profits. We tour guides at Chicago Detours fund these […]
Big Ideas Behind the Little Chicago Alleys
What’s in Chicago alleys? That which we might call an alleyway actually makes our city smell so sweet. That line is some mock Shakespeare, of course, but it’s still true. Chicago alleys are one of the instrumental parts of our cityscape. They predate the city itself. They’re an invaluable part of the city’s infrastructure. They even […]