Old Town

Saint Michael's Church--one of 7 churches to survive the Great Fire of 1871.


One of many pockets of gardens and statues in the neighborhood.


The sculptor of these horses is the same person who created the tin man scupture in OZ Park (located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood). These horse are sculpted out of bumpers from cars!


The Greeter's program offered through the Chicago Office of Tourism is one of Chicago's best kept secrets. You can tour over 22 different neighborhoods or pick a variety of areas of interest from farmer's markets in the city to architecture to legal! They are offered free to those visiting the city, but you may only use the greeter program ONCE per year. The docents are knowledgeable ambassadors and excited to share "their" city with you! To take advantage of the greeter program you must sign up 2 weeks in advance of your stay. (I have taken numerous "paid" tours of Chicago and still think that the Greeter's program offers one of the best tours!)

Since I learned of the Greeter program 4 years ago, I have been on 4 tours-Pilsen, the exact location of the Chicago Fire and it's history, Argyle Street and just recently Old Town.

Although I was familiar with Old Town and it's beauty, I was curious about it's history. Old Town is probably most well know for Second City, the comedy impro place that launch many careers such as Gilda Radner, Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi from Saturday Night Live. Old Town is a beautiful neighborhood filled with old Victorian homes and pockets of gardens and sculptures. It is also home to Saint Michael 's Church, one of the few churches not harmed during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Venture inside to see this beautiful church!