Travel (virtually) down Ogden Avenue, named for Chicago’s first mayor, visiting historic neighborhoods, parks and landmark buildings. This talk will highlight Chicago’s early industrial days, the Civil Rights Movement in the city and new developments for housing, education and healthcare.
William Ogden’s impact on Chicago goes far beyond being the city’s first mayor. This talk covers famous landmarks like the old Cook County Hospital, Stone Temple Baptist Church and 100 years of architectural styles. Explore Douglass Park, one of Chicago’s oldest parks at 150 years, and learn how it came to honor Anna and Frederick Douglass in 2020. This talk also discusses the historic North Lawndale community, from its early Jewish heritage to a predominantly African American community today; and new developments like The Farm on Ogden, connecting its community with fresh food and good health.
DOCENT SPEAKER:
Steve Redfield began studying architecture in college but was diverted to a career in nonprofit social services. His work in numerous Chicago neighborhoods over 30 years expanded his interest in architecture and history outside the Loop. Redfield returned to his passion for architecture when he became a CAC docent in 2019, and he now conducts tours in Pilsen, the Sheffield Historic District, and on the ‘L’ train. He appreciates discovering how the city’s “built environment” reveals stories of our neighborhoods and the people who live in them.
$15 Public
Free for Members of the Chicago Architecture Center
