Been to Chicago’s Bronzeville Neighborhood?
Off the beaten path but still close to downtown, Bronzeville is a great place to learn more about our city. The four Chicago Community Areas of Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Douglas, and Oakland comprise Bronzeville, which is historically known as the “Black Metropolis.” It served as the northern hub for the “Great Migration” of African Americans […]
Tour Questions Answered!
The curious people who come on our interactive, guided tours of history, culture and architecture sometimes have questions. Since Chicago Detours guides don’t make up answers for our architectural tours, we mark them down and then research the answers for them. Said research is done, so consider these tour questions answered! If you’ve come on […]
Chicago Tech Week: Reflections on the Future
Chicago Detours approaches the city not just as a history museum, but as a living organism to be experienced in the present, and the future, too. The city is abuzz with talk of Chicago as a hot place for technology start-ups. Mayor Emmanuel announced the “Apps for Metro Chicago” competition a month ago, and obviously […]
Remembering the Eastland Disaster
Today the U.S Coast Guard lay flowers on the site of the disaster along with the people of the Eastland Historical Society to commemorate Chicago’s worst disaster of human casualties. In 1916 the ship was ready to head out for the Western Electric Company’s annual picnic to Michigan City, Indiana. While the boat had been […]
The Prairie Style of Lincoln Park Zoo Architecture
Dwight H. Perkins, prairie school architect, has a number of relevant buildings located throughout Chicago, yet has traveled under the historical-radar. His most famous buildings are located in the Lincoln Park Zoo and offer an opportunity to learn more about the oldest public zoo in North America.
Celebrating the Detours First Anniversary
Chicago Detours Founder and Tour Guide Amanda Scotese reflects on one year in business.
A True Detour: Miller Beach
Chicagoans associate Indiana with Gary, and its steel mills, unemployment, and factory landscape. Few are aware of the nearby community of Miller Beach, surrounded by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. (Little fact: Only four parks have the designation of “National Lakeshore” and all of them are on the Great Lakes.) Carl Sandburg buried his toes […]
Chicago Tour Company Cheers to our New Website
Note: Our current website was built by the Langley Group. This dynamic website, designed by Studio of the Month, will help us fulfill our mission to share Chicago history and culture through our public walking tours and private tour programs. Many exciting developments are happening with Chicago’s newest tour company, which just launched this past […]