Albany Park
(Albany Park, Mayfair, North Mayfair, Ravenswood Manor)
Zipcodes
60625, 60630
Boundaries
North: Foster Ave. to Keeler and Kedvale to Argyle to Carmen to Pulaski to North Branch of Chicago River
East: Chicago River
South: Montrose Ave. to Elston to Kostner and then Lawrence
West: Cicero Avenue
Featured Annotation
National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial
Located at 2831 W. Lawrence Ave., the National Cambodian Heritage Museum (www.cambodianmuseum.org) seeks to capture the history of Chicago’s Cambodian-Americans and the experience of Cambodian refugees here in Chicago. Their hours are Monday-Friday 10am to 4pm or by appointment on the weekends. While it is possible to take a virtual tour mainly by photographs, it is perhaps better for student researchers to visit the museum itself and learn more about the history and the services that are provided to Cambodian Americans and Cambodian refugees. This is also an opportunity to learn more about the refugee experience here in Chicago.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Cultural Center: American Indian Cultural Center, https://www.aicchicago.org/
Park: Ronan Park Multicultural Sculpture and Healing Garden, 3000 W. Argyle Street Park: Turtle Park Garden, http://neighbor-space.org/2011/05/20/turtle-park-and-garden/
Cultural Area: Albany Park Theater Project, 5100 N. Ridgeway Avenue
Cultural Area: Global Gardens Refugee Training Farm, https://www.globalgardenfarm.org/
Edgewater
(Andersonville, Edgewater, Edgewater Glen, Epic, Lakewood/Balmoral)
Zipcodes
60640, 60660
Boundaries
North: Devon and Sheridan
East: Lake Michigan
South: Foster Avenue
West: Ravenswood Avenue
Featured Annotation
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives Located at 6500 N. Clark St., this archive (http://www.gerberhart.org) focuses on LGBTQ+ material and is free to access by student researchers. Access times and days are limited; however, they do have an archive collections guide so that students can prepare for their visit beforehand.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Cultural Center: Swedish American Museum,
Art Center: 6018 North, 6018 North Kenmore Avenue Historic Area: Rosehill Cemetery, https://www.facebook.com/RosehillCemeteryTours (Walking tours) Historical Society: Edgewater Historical Society and Museum, www.edgewaterhistory.org, 5358 N. Ashland Avenue
Newspaper: Edgeville Buzz, http://www.edgevillebuzz.com
Edison Park
(Edison Park)
Zipcodes
60631
Boundaries
North: Howard St.
East: Harlem Avenue
South: Palatine to Odell and then Devon Ave.
West: Ozanam Ave. to Touhy and then City Limits
Featured Annotation
Northwestern Society of Model Railroaders at the Edison Park Fieldhouse
The fieldhouse at Edison Park, as do most fieldhouses within the Chicago Park District, offer a number of activities for neighborhood families. The Edison Park fieldhouse (6765 Northwest Highway) hosts the Northwestern Society of Model Railroaders, which meets weekly. Student researchers might visit the fieldhouse as a way to learn more about the
Edison Park neighborhood/community area; however, if they are interested in communities built around model railroading, then contacting this sociey and interviewing one of the members is a way to start.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Park: Edison Park, 6755 N. Northwest Highway
Community Organization: Edison Park Chamber of Commerce, 6730 N. Ohmsted Avenue
Forest Glen
(Edgebrook, Forest Glen, Middle Edgebrook, Sauganash, Wildwood)
Zipcodes
60630, 60646
Boundaries
North: Touhy to City Limits to Lehigh to City Limits to Central to City Limits to Ionia to Devon
East: C&NWRR to Peterson to Rogers to Bryn Mawr and then Kostner to North Branch of Chicago River to Cicero down to Lawrence
South: Lawrence to Lavergne
West: Lavergne to Winnemac to LeClaire to Elston to CMSTPPRR to North Branch of Chicago River to City Limits to Caldwell.
Featured Annotation
Mary Berkemeier Quinn Park of Trees in Old Edgebrook
The Mary Berkemeier Quinn Park of Trees, located at 6239 N. McClellan Ave., was originally a home and land in Old Edgebrook, Forest Glen’s historic district - owned by the Burkemeiers. When Mary Berkemeier Quinn died, her husband deeded the land to the Chicago Park District such that, upon his death, the house would be demolished and at least 20 trees would be planted on the land. The Chicago Park District honored the terms of the deed. Student researchers might use this opportunity to not only visit the park, but experience Old Edgebrook, which has a distinct history.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Historic Area: Old Edgesbrook, Between Central and Devon Avenues (surrounded by Cook County Forest Preserves)
Historic Building: Queen of all Saints Basilica, 6280 N. Sauganash Avenue
Jefferson Park
(Gladstone Park, Jefferson Park)
Zipcodes
60630, 60646
Boundaries
North: Devon at Melvina and North Branch of Chicago River
East: CMSTP&PRR to Elston and then LeClaire to Winnemac and then Laverne to Lawrence
South: Lawrence to Central and then Gunnison
West: Nagle to Bryn Mawr and then Austin to Indian Rd to Devon Ave.
Featured Annotation
Ed Paschke Art Center
See the story of Vaca Victoria as given in the How to Use guide for an interesting story about the Ed Paschke Art Center. Free to the public, though it’s good to bring even a small donation, the Ed Paschke Art Center features the work of Ed Paschke, a Chicago artist whose studio was located in Rogers Park for most of his life. He taught a form of art that was fairly surreal, but that encouraged a new look at social issues of the moment. Student researchers interested in the work of relatively contemporary Chicago artists on urban life would do well to look at the life and work of Ed Paschke.
Lincoln Square
(Bowmanville, Budlong Woods, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Ravenswood Gardens)
Zipcodes
60625, 60640
Boundaries
North: Bryn Mawr to Western and then Peterson
East: Ravenswood Avenue
South: Montrose Avenue
West: North Shore Channel and North Branch Chicago River
Featured Annotation
Dank Haus German American Cultural Center The Dank Haus German American Cultural Center (www.dankhaus.com) offers useful information regarding Chicago’s German American communities. Student Researchers should visit their library or any one of their local exhibits and programs. They do include information for researchers interested in accessing materials in their collections.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Cultural Area: Giddings Plaza (Kempf Plaza), Giddings and Lincoln Avenues
Historic Building: Davis Theater, 4614 N. Lincoln Avenue
North Park
(Hollywood Park, North Park, Pulaski Park)
Zipcodes
60625, 60646, 60659
Boundaries
North: North Branch of Chicago river to Bryn Mawr to Kostner and then Rogers to Peterson and then CNWRR to Devon
East: North Shore Channel; S. North Branch of Chicago River to Pulaski and then Argyle to Kedvale and then Keeler and then Foster between Carmen and Cicero
South: North Branch of Chicago River to Pulaski and then Argyle to Kedvale and then Keeler and then Foster between Carmen and Cicero
West: Cicero Avenue
Featured Annotation
Gompers Park
Gompers Park is so named in honor of Samuel Gompers. It is run by the Chicago Park District. Student researchers might visit the park to learn more about Gompers’ legacy and labor history as well as to experience the park itself.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Park: Peterson Park, Peterson and Pulaski Avenues
Norwood Park
(Big Oaks, Norwood Park, Old Norwood, Oriole Park, Union Ridge)
Zipcodes
60631, 60646
Boundaries
North: Devon Ave. to Odell Ave. and then Hayes to Harlem and then Neva to Albion and then Newark to Newcastle and then Albion to Milwaukee and then the North Branch of the Chicago River
East: North Branch of Chicago River to Devon Ave. to Indian Rd. to Austin to Bryn Mawr and then Nagle to Alley north of Gunnison!
South: Alley North of Gunnison to Nordica and then Gunnison to Harlem and then Foster to Oriole and Overhill and then Foster to Pacific and then Pioneer Plainfield and then Foster to Cumberland
West: Cumberland to Higgins and then Canfield to Palatine.
Featured Annotation
Norwood Park Historical Society (norwoodparkhistoricalsociety.org )
This historical society, located at 5624 N. Newark Avenue, is open for touring on Saturdays from noon to 4pm or by appointment. Norwood Park lays claim on its website to Chicago’s “oldest existing home” — a claim potentially contested by the histories of the Clarke House on the Near South Side and by the Iglehart House in Morgan Park (See the citation above). As with the Clarke House, the Norwood Park Historical Society uses the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House, which hosts the society to display its archives of Norwood Park and to display rooms in the house as they were historically furnished. Student researchers interested in how Chicago acquired adjacent small towns and communities as part of its urban growth, in exploring the claim to Chicago’s oldest X, or in exploring historical interior design might benefit from visiting this society.
O’Hare
(O’Hare, Schorsch Forest View)
Zipcodes
60656, 60666
Boundaries
North: Touhy to Mt. Prospect Rd to Higgins Rd to Mannheim and then there’s a divide along Foster Ave. and the DesPlaines River is in the breach and then there’s Higgins Rd.
East: Cumberland to Foster and then Argyle and then Lawrence and then Cumberland again to Pontiac
South: Belmont Avenue
West: York Road
Featured Annotation
Catherine Chevalier Woods
While it is easy to focus on O’Hare airport for this community area, student researchers might benefit more from checking out the residents of the O’Hare community area, especially those in Schorsch Forest View. The Catherine Chevalier Woods, run by the Lake County Forest Preserve District and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, provides walking access to the Des Plaines River.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Newspaper: Chicago Northwest, https://chicagonorthwest.com Newspaper: Northwest Side Press, www.nadignewspapers.com
Park: Schiller Woods (“Fountain of Youth”), Irving Park Road., Schiller Park, IL
Park: Ned Brown Preserve, E. Higgins Road and Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village, IL
Rogers Park
(Loyola, Rogers Park)
Zipcodes
60626
Boundaries
North: Howard St. to CM.S.T.P. &P.R.R. to S. Line Calvary Cemetery
East: Lake Michigan
South: Devon Avenue
West: Ridge Avenue
Featured Annotation
Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society This historical society endeavors to preserve the historical features of the Rogers Park and West Ridge communities. Located at 7363 N. Greenview Avenue, the society features exhibits, various programs to learn more about the communities listed above, and a history wiki on their website (https://rpwrhs.org/ ). Both their website and their physical location are worth exploring. Aside from learning more about Rogers Park and West Ridge, student researchers might find their resources on investigating the history of buildings and houses especially useful. These resources include a useful .pdf entitled, “How to Research Your Neighborhood”.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Historic Building: Emil Bach House, 7415 N. Sheridan Road
Art Center/Gallery: Glenwood Arts District, http://www.glenwoodave.org
Community Organization: Network 49, https://www.facebook.com/network49
Uptown
(Clarendon Park, Buena Park, New Chinatown, Sheridan Park, Uptown)
Zipcodes
60613, 60640
Boundaries
North: Foster Avenue
East: Lake Michigan (incl. Lincoln Park and Montrose Harbor);
South: Irving Park to Clark St. and then Montrose Ave.
West: Ravenswood Avenue
Featured Annotation
Haitian American Museum of Chicago
Founded by Elsie Hernandez, a faculty member at Olive Harvey College, the Haitian American Museum of Chicago highlights Haitian and Haitian American culture and seeks to educate the public about Chicago’s Haitian Americans. The museum is physically located at 4654 N. Racine Ave., which is down the street from Truman College, and a discount is available for City Colleges of Chicago students.
Uptown Update (newspaper)
The Uptown Update (https://www.uptownupdate.com) is a community newspaper, meaning that it offers useful local information for Uptown residents. The Uptown represented by the newspaper is the neighborhood, not the community area as a whole. Most community newspapers are great at sharing resources that are available to residents, noting concerns about crime or city services, communicating messages from the alderperson or police precinct, and sometimes offering general editorials and commentary on the state of things in the neighborhood. Student researchers can definitely use this and other community newspapers to get some insight into how the community perceives itself, what the community finds news-worthy, and what concerns the community, i.e. strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and basic information.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Cultural Area: West Argyle Street Historic District aka Asia on Argyle, https://www.facebook.com/asiaonargyle
Cultural and Historic Building: Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway Ave., www.greenmilljazz.com
West Ridge (originally called North Town or West Rogers Park)
(Northtown, Peterson Park, Rosehill, West Ridge, West Rogers Park)
Zipcodes
60645, 60659
Boundaries
North: Howard Street
East: Ridge Ave. to Devon Ave. and then Ravenswood Ave.
South: Peterson Ave. to Western Ave. and then Bryn Mawr Ave.
West: N. shore Channel to Devon Ave. and then Kedzie Ave.
Featured Annotation
National Indo-American Museum nee Indo-American Heritage Museum
Located in the Indo-American Center on 6328 N. California Avenue, just south of the famous Devon Avenue, the museum is dedicated to telling the story of Chicago’s Indian-Americans. The museum considers itself a living museum in that it organizes programs and does extensive outreach to do its work. Student researchers should visit the museum’s website at www.iahmuseum.org to see what current exhibits are available and/or to seek an interview with the museum’s curators on aspects of the Indian-American experience.
Other Primary Sources of Interest
Cultural Area: Devon Avenue
Natural Area: West Ridge Nature Preserve, 5801 N. Western Avenue
Cultural Center: IQRA’ Book Center, 2749 W. Devon Avenue
Parks: Indian Boundary Park, 2500 W. Lunt Avenue; Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Avenue
Historical Area: Talman West Ridge Bungalow Historic District, N. Talman Avenue and W. Arthur Street
Historic Building: Saint Henry’s Church and Graveyard, 6335 N. Hoyne Avenue
