Walking Tour | Mary Bartelme Park and Beyond in the West Loop

Did you know that the West Loop’s Mary Bartelme Park is named after Illinois’s first female judge? Or that in 1988, investors purchased a cold storage warehouse and established Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios in this neighborhood? Join storyteller and guide Connie Fairbanks, author of Chicago’s West Loop Now and Then: People, Businesses, Buildings, to explore the history of the Near West Side/West Loop from the late 1800s to the present. See a range of historical locations that have made the West Loop what it is today. From the new Pray for Peace sculpture to remnants of one of the largest garment districts in the US, you’ll learn about the history of this neighborhood while viewing the art and architecture that makes the West Loop such an important site in Chicago’s history. You’ll even learn where the powdered sugar doughnut was perfected! $25; $22.50 members Tour runs 60–90 minutes and includes one mile of walking on sidewalks. Tour begins at the corner of Adams and Peoria Streets, near Mary Bartelme Park (115 S. Sangamon), and ends at the corner of Halsted and Madison Streets, near the Midwest Bank Building (801 W. Madison St.). Tour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum, good for one week from tour date. Masks are optional for our walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.