Lithuanians in the Chicago area facts for kids
Chicago is home to a very large and important group of Lithuanians. Their story in the "Windy City" goes back over a hundred years. In fact, the Chicago area has the biggest Lithuanian community outside of Lithuania itself! Because of this, many people call Chicago "Little Lithuania." Some Lithuanian Americans even think of it as Lithuania's second capital. Lithuanians from Chicago have made a big difference in politics, both in the United States and in Lithuania.
Contents
History of Lithuanians in Chicago
Lithuanians officially started arriving in the US after 1918. This was when Lithuania became an independent country again, after being part of Imperial Russia. However, many Lithuanians came to Chicago even earlier, starting in the late 1800s. Back then, they were often listed as Russian citizens because Lithuania wasn't independent. Also, official papers were usually written in Russian, Polish, or German.
Thousands of Lithuanians moved to Chicago, finding jobs in the growing city. Their lives were famously shown in a book called The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. This 1906 novel told the story of a Lithuanian immigrant named Jurgis Rudkus. It showed the tough working conditions in the Chicago stockyards.
Where Lithuanians Settled in Chicago
The First Lithuanian Neighborhood
The first main area where Lithuanians lived in Chicago was called "Lithuanian Downtown." It was located along Halsted Street in a neighborhood called Bridgeport. Lithuanians chose this area because it was close to where their old neighbors from Europe, the Poles, had settled.
In Bridgeport, the first Lithuanian church in the Midwest was built. It was called Saint George. This church showed how important Bridgeport would become for Lithuanians across the United States. Many of the early buildings in this area were built around 1910 by Antanas Olšauskas, a key Lithuanian community leader. From the 1890s to the 1950s, Bridgeport was the most important Lithuanian neighborhood in Chicago.
How Lithuanians Spread Out in Chicago
At first, Lithuanians settled near Poles, just like many other immigrant groups in Chicago. But today, you can find Lithuanians all over the Chicago metropolitan area. Over the years, Lithuanians have lived in different Chicago neighborhoods. These include Bridgeport, Brighton Park, the Marquette Park area, and the Back of the Yards. The nearby suburb of Cicero also had a group of Lithuanians, especially around St. Anthony's Church.
More recently, new Lithuanian immigrants have moved to Chicago's suburbs. These include Lemont, Darien, Homer Glen, and Woodridge. These towns also have many Polish residents. There's even a small group of Lithuanians in northwest Indiana, near Beverly Shores. They have an American-Lithuanian Club there.
Lithuanian Culture in Chicago
Today, "Little Lithuania" is a major center for Lithuanian culture in North America. You can find many Lithuanian restaurants, bookstores, and shops there. Valdas Adamkus, who was President of Lithuania from 1998-2003 and 2004–2009, used to live in the Chicago area.
Chicago is also home to the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania. This means the city's large Lithuanian American community stays very connected to their homeland. You can see Chicago's Lithuanian history in its streets, like Lituanica Avenue. There's also an Art Deco monument in Marquette Park. It remembers pilots Stasys Girėnas and Steponas Darius who died in a plane crash in 1933.
Lithuanian Churches in Chicago
Many beautiful churches in Chicago were built by Lithuanian immigrants. These include Holy Cross, Providence of God, and Nativity BVM. These churches are decorated with fancy designs, like those from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. They were built to look like the grand buildings from the time of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
These churches were built when Lithuania was controlled by Russia. They often included Lithuanian symbols, like the Vytis (Lithuania's national symbol), to show pride in Lithuanian culture.
Lithuanian Museums in Chicago
Chicago has several museums that celebrate Lithuanian culture.
- The Lithuanian Museum is part of the Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. It's located at the Lithuanian Youth Center (Lietuvių Jaunimo Centras, 5620 S. Claremont Ave.).
- The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture opened in 1966. It's in south Chicago at 6500 South Pulaski Road. This museum works to keep Lithuanian culture alive. It started with donations from the community. Today, it has many exhibits for both kids and adults. Every two years, the museum even organizes trips to Lithuania!
- The Lithuanian Folk Art Institute of Chicago is at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont. This museum displays wood carvings, amber jewelry, traditional Lithuanian clothes, and other folk art.
Lithuanian Restaurants in Chicago
You can find many Lithuanian food options in Chicago.
- The Healthy Food restaurant opened in 1938 in the Bridgeport neighborhood. It was known for making food "consistent, as mom used to make at home." It closed in 2009.
- Bernice's Tavern has been run by the Badauskas family for over 50 years. It's one of the few places in Chicago where you can find Švyturys beer.
- Grand Duke’s, a more recent Lithuanian restaurant, opened in 2005 on Harlem Avenue. It created a special medieval Lithuanian setting. They were famous for their traditional comfort food and entertainment. Grand Duke’s moved to Downers Grove in 2019. In 2012, they opened a sister restaurant called Old Vilnius in Darien.
Lithuanian Schools in Chicago
There are several Lithuanian schools in or near Chicago.
- The Lithuanian School of Chicago (Čikagos Lituanistinė Mokykla) is a private school for Lithuanian immigrant children. It was founded in 1992 at the Chicago Lithuanian Youth Center.
- Other Lithuanian schools include Maironis in Lemont, Gediminas in Waukegan, and Rasa in Naperville.
Lithuanian Media in Chicago
Draugas (Friend) is the first Lithuanian newspaper in the United States. It started in 1903 and is printed in Chicago. Other Lithuanian newspapers include Amerikos Lietuvis (Lithuanian American) and Čikagos Aidas (Echo Chicago). These newspapers share news about Lithuanians in Chicago and around the world. You can often find them in local stores where Lithuanians shop, like Brookhaven in Darien or Peter’s Deli in Lemont. Many are also available online.
Other newspapers like Naujienos and Vilnis were printed for many years in Chicago.
Lithuanian Festivals in Chicago
Years ago, the Lithuanian Song Festival (Dainų Šventė) and Dance Festival (Šokių Šventė) were held at the International Amphitheatre. More recently, the Song Festival has been held at the UIC Pavilion. The Dance Festival has taken place in the suburb of Rosemont.
Lithuanian Opera in Chicago
The Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago was started by Lithuanian immigrants in 1956. They perform operas in the Lithuanian language. These operas were sometimes held at Maria High School. Now, they are sometimes performed at Morton East High School in Cicero.
Notable People with Lithuanian Roots from Chicago
- Robert Zemeckis
- Joseph Kromelis
- Dick Durbin
- Kazys Grinius
- Kazys Bobelis
- Vladas Jakubėnas
- Valdas Adamkus
- John C. Reilly
- Kazys Bradūnas
Important Lithuanian Places in the Chicago Area
- The Lithuanian Research and Studies Center has two locations. One is in Lemont, holding old papers, recordings, and music. The other is at the Lithuanian Youth Center in Chicago. It has a huge library and museums.
- Lithuanian World Center (Pasaulio Lietuvių Centras) in Lemont, Illinois is a big place for Lithuanian culture. It has a Roman Catholic chapel, a mission, and classrooms for the Maironis Lithuanian School.
- Lithuanian Youth Center (Lietuvių Jaunimo Centras) in Chicago's Marquette Park neighborhood. Here you'll find a Catholic residence, a chapel, an art gallery, and the Lithuanian Research and Studies Center, Inc..
- Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Chicago. This is Lithuania's official office in Chicago.
- Ateitis Foundation Center (Ateitininkų Namai) in Lemont, Illinois. This is a place for the Lithuanian youth group called Ateitininkai.
- Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture on Chicago's south side.
- Draugas Publishing House (Draugo Redakcija) near the Midway Airport. This is where the old Lithuanian newspaper Draugas is printed.
- St. Casimir Lithuanian Cemetery (Švento Kazimiero Kapinės) on the southwest side of Chicago. Many Lithuanians are buried here.
- Lithuanian National Cemetery in Justice, Illinois.
