National Register of Historic Places listings in West Side Chicago facts for kids
Did you know that many important buildings and places in the United States are protected because of their history? They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places that are important to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our past.
The West Side, Chicago has 68 places on this list! This is out of over 350 historic spots in the whole city of Chicago. For this article, the West Side is the area north of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, south of Fullerton Avenue, west of the Chicago River, and east of the city's western edge.
One place, the Logan Square Boulevards Historic District, is so big it's also listed on the North Side. Also, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Historic District stretches far beyond Chicago, going through Cook County, DuPage County, and Will County all the way to Lockport.
Contents
Historic Places on Chicago's West Side
These special places are found in 9 of Chicago's 77 different neighborhoods, called "community areas." Let's explore some of them!
| Name on the Register | Image | Date listed | Location | Neighborhood | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7th District Police Station |
 |
(#96000515) |
943-949 W. Maxwell Street 41°51′52″N 87°39′02″W / 41.864444°N 87.650556°W |
Near West Side | This police station was built in 1888. It's a great example of Romanesque Revival style. It helped keep the peace in the busy "Bloody Maxwell" area for 100 years, from 1888 to 1988. |
| 2 | Austin Historic District |
 |
(#85001741) |
Roughly bounded by W. Ohio Street, N. Waller Avenue, N. Parkside Avenue, W. West End Avenue, & N. Mayfield Avenue & W. Corcoran Place 41°53′12″N 87°46′12″W / 41.886667°N 87.77°W |
Austin | This is a large historic area in the Austin neighborhood. It includes many old and important buildings. |
| 3 | Austin Town Hall Park Historic District |
 |
(#06001015) |
Roughly bounded by W. Lake Street, N. Central Avenue, N. Parkside Avenue, and W. Race Avenue 41°53′18″N 87°45′57″W / 41.888333°N 87.765833°W |
Austin | This historic district includes the beautiful Austin Town Hall and the park around it. It's a key part of the Austin community. |
| 6 | Central Park Theater |
.jpg) |
(#05000873) |
3531-39 W. Roosevelt Road 41°51′59″N 87°42′26″W / 41.866389°N 87.707222°W |
North Lawndale | The Central Park Theater is a historic movie palace. It was once a very popular place for entertainment in the neighborhood. |
| 8 | Anton Cermak House |
 |
(#10001201) |
2348 S. Millard Avenue 41°50′54″N 87°42′59″W / 41.848333°N 87.716389°W |
South Lawndale | This was the home of Anton Cermak, who served as the Mayor of Chicago. His home is now a historic landmark. |
| 10 | Chicago Park Boulevard System Historic District |
 |
(#12000040) |
Douglas, Gage, McKinley, Jackson, Sherman, Washington, Garfield & Humboldt Parks, E. Oakwood, S. Drexel Boulevards Coordinates missing |
This district includes many of Chicago's famous parks and the wide, tree-lined streets (boulevards) that connect them. It shows how Chicago planned its green spaces. | |
| 11 | Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Historic District |
 |
(#11000907) |
Illinois Waterway miles 290.0-321.7 41°50′05″N 87°41′42″W / 41.834669°N 87.694889°W |
Lower West Side and South Lawndale | This historic district covers a large part of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. This canal was a huge engineering project that helped clean up the Chicago River. It's part of a bigger waterway system. |
| 13 | Church of the Epiphany |
 |
(#98000067) |
201 S. Ashland Avenue 41°52′43″N 87°39′59″W / 41.878611°N 87.666389°W |
Near West Side | This beautiful church is a significant religious building in the Near West Side. |
| 14 | Columbus Park |
 |
(#91000567) |
500 S. Central Avenue 41°52′28″N 87°46′10″W / 41.874444°N 87.769444°W |
Austin | Columbus Park is a large, historic park in the Austin neighborhood. It was designed by famous landscape architect Jens Jensen. |
| 15 | Cook County Hospital Administration Building |
 |
(#06001017) |
1835 W. Harrison Street 41°52′33″N 87°40′22″W / 41.875833°N 87.672778°W |
Near West Side | The administration building of the old Cook County Hospital is a historic landmark. This hospital served many people in Chicago for a long time. |
| 19 | First Congregational Church of Austin |
.jpg) |
(#77000474) |
5701 W. Midway Park 41°53′19″N 87°46′05″W / 41.888611°N 87.768056°W |
Austin | This church is an important part of the Austin community's history and architecture. |
| 20 | Lucy Flower Technical High School for Girls |
 |
(#100000960) |
3545 W. Fulton Boulevard 41°53′11″N 87°42′56″W / 41.886301°N 87.715442°W |
East Garfield Park | This historic school was built to provide technical education for girls. It played a role in women's education. |
| 22 | Garfield Park |
 |
(#93000837) |
100 N. Central Park Avenue 41°53′11″N 87°42′58″W / 41.886389°N 87.716111°W |
East Garfield Park | Garfield Park is one of Chicago's oldest and largest parks. It's famous for its beautiful conservatory, which is like a giant greenhouse with many plants. |
| 25 | Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Rectory |
 |
(#76000693) |
1117-1127 N. Leavitt Street 41°54′07″N 87°40′55″W / 41.901944°N 87.681944°W |
West Town | This cathedral is a stunning example of Russian Orthodox church architecture. It was designed by the famous architect Louis Sullivan. |
| 27 | Hull House |
 |
(#66000315) |
800 S. Halsted Street 41°52′17″N 87°38′49″W / 41.871389°N 87.646944°W |
Near West Side | Hull House was a very important settlement house founded by Jane Addams. It helped many immigrants and poor people in Chicago. It's a National Historic Landmark. |
| 28 | Humboldt Park |
 |
(#92000074) |
Roughly bounded by N. Sacramento Boulevard and W. Augusta Boulevard, and N. Kedzie Avenue, W. North Avenue and N. California Avenue and W. Division Street 41°54′12″N 87°42′10″W / 41.903333°N 87.702778°W |
West Town | Humboldt Park is another one of Chicago's large, historic parks. It has beautiful landscapes and buildings, including stables. |
| 30 | Jewish People's Institute |
 |
(#78001122) |
3500 W. Douglas Boulevard 41°51′47″N 87°42′47″W / 41.863056°N 87.713056°W |
North Lawndale | This institute served as an important community center for Jewish people in Chicago. It offered many programs and services. |
| 31 | K-Town Historic District |
 |
(#10000724) |
Bounded on the north by W. Cullerton Street; on the south by W. Cermak Road, on the west by S. Kostner Avenue, and on the east by S. Pulaski Road 41°51′11″N 87°43′47″W / 41.853056°N 87.729722°W |
North Lawndale | The K-Town Historic District gets its name because many of its streets start with the letter "K." It's known for its unique architecture. |
| 35 | Logan Square Boulevards Historic District |
 |
(#85002901) |
W. Logan Boulevard, Logan Square, N. Kedzie Boulevard, Palmer Square, and N. Humboldt Boulevard 41°55′16″N 87°42′16″W / 41.92112°N 87.704385°W |
Logan Square | This district includes beautiful boulevards and parks that connect different parts of the Logan Square neighborhood. It's a great example of city planning. |
| 36 | Lou Mitchell's Restaurant |
 |
(#06000376) |
565 W. Jackson Boulevard 41°52′38″N 87°38′30″W / 41.877222°N 87.641667°W |
Near West Side | Lou Mitchell's is a famous diner known for its breakfast and classic American food. It's been a Chicago favorite for many years. |
| 39 | Notre Dame de Chicago |
 |
(#79000826) |
1338 W. Flournoy Street 41°52′24″N 87°39′39″W / 41.873333°N 87.660833°W |
Near West Side | This church, Notre Dame de Chicago, is a beautiful and historic place of worship in the city. |
| 42 | Pilsen Historic District |
 |
(#10240018) |
Roughly bounded by W. 16th Street, W. Cermak Road, S. Halsted Street and S. Western Avenue 41°51′14″N 87°40′13″W / 41.853889°N 87.670278°W |
Lower West Side | The Pilsen Historic District is known for its strong Czech and Mexican heritage. It has many colorful murals and historic buildings. |
| 44 | Polish Roman Catholic Union of America |
 |
(#12001114) |
984 N. Milwaukee Avenue 41°53′58″N 87°39′40″W / 41.899582°N 87.661141°W |
West Town | This building houses the Polish Museum of America, which celebrates Polish history and culture in the United States. |
| 46 | Pulaski Park and Fieldhouse |
 |
(#81000217) |
1419 W. Blackhawk Street 41°54′21″N 87°39′47″W / 41.905833°N 87.663056°W |
West Town | Pulaski Park is a historic park with a fieldhouse that serves the community. It's named after Casimir Pulaski, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. |
| 48 | St. Ignatius College |
 |
(#77000480) |
1076 W. Roosevelt Road 41°52′03″N 87°39′06″W / 41.8675°N 87.651667°W |
Near West Side | St. Ignatius College Prep is a historic high school known for its beautiful architecture and long history of education. |
| 50 | St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church |
.jpg) |
(#77000481) |
718 W. Adams Street 41°52′45″N 87°38′40″W / 41.879167°N 87.644444°W |
Near West Side | St. Patrick's Church is one of Chicago's oldest churches. It has a rich history and beautiful stained glass windows. |
| 51 | Schoenhofen Brewery Historic District |
 |
(#78001128) |
Roughly bounded by W. 16th Street, W. 18th Street, S. Canal Street, and S. Clinton Street 41°51′31″N 87°38′22″W / 41.858611°N 87.639444°W |
Lower West Side | This historic district includes buildings from the old Schoenhofen Brewery. It shows what industrial areas looked like in the past. |
| 52 | Sears, Roebuck and Company Complex |
 |
(#78001129) |
925 S. Homan Avenue 41°52′10″N 87°42′42″W / 41.869444°N 87.711667°W |
North Lawndale | This large complex was once the headquarters for Sears, Roebuck and Company, a huge mail-order and retail business. It's a National Historic Landmark. |
| 55 | South Water Market |
 |
(#04000870) |
Bounded by W. 14th Place, the 16th Street rail embankment, S. Racine Avenue, and S. Morgan Street 41°51′42″N 87°39′15″W / 41.861667°N 87.654167°W |
Near West Side | The South Water Market was a very important place for selling fresh produce in Chicago for many years. It helped feed the city. |
| 59 | Tri-Taylor Historic District |
 |
(#83000315) |
Roughly bounded by S. Claremont Avenue, W. Harrison Street, S. Oakley Avenue, W. Polk Street, W. Ogden Avenue, and W. Roosevelt Road; also roughly bounded on the north by Oakley, Harrison, and Claremont Streets, and on the southeast by Taylor and Oakley Streets 41°52′13″N 87°41′00″W / 41.870278°N 87.683333°W |
Near West Side | This historic district is known for its charming older homes and streets. It has been expanded over time to include more historic areas. |
| 60 | Union Park Congregational Church and Carpenter Chapel |
 |
(#06000446) |
1613 W. Washington Boulevard 41°53′06″N 87°40′03″W / 41.885°N 87.6675°W |
Near West Side | Built in 1871, this church is now known as First Baptist Congregational Church. It was badly damaged in a big snowstorm in 2011. |
| 63 | United States Post Office-Chicago |
 |
(#01000868) |
433 W. Van Buren Street 41°52′34″N 87°38′19″W / 41.876111°N 87.638611°W |
Near West Side | This massive building was once Chicago's main post office. It's a huge and impressive structure. |
| 64 | Joseph J. Walser House |
 |
(#13000185) |
42 N. Central Avenue 41°52′54″N 87°45′55″W / 41.881528°N 87.765286°W |
Austin | This house was designed by the very famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1903. |
| 66 | West Jackson Boulevard District |
 |
(#78001134) |
Roughly bounded by S. Laflin Avenue, S. Ashland Avenue, W. Adams Street, and W. Van Buren Street; also 1513 W. Adams Street 41°52′39″N 87°39′55″W / 41.8775°N 87.665278°W |
Near West Side | This historic district along West Jackson Boulevard features many beautiful old buildings and homes. It has been expanded to include more historic areas. |
| 68 | Wicker Park Historic District |
 |
(#79000831) |
Roughly bounded by N. Wood Street, W. Crystal Street, N. Caton Street, N. Claremont Avenue and W. North Avenue 41°54′26″N 87°40′20″W / 41.907222°N 87.672222°W |
West Town | The Wicker Park Historic District is known for its beautiful Victorian-era homes and its lively neighborhood feel. |
Former Historic Listings
Sometimes, places are removed from the National Register. This can happen if they are torn down or moved. Here are a few examples from Chicago's West Side:
| Name on the Register | Image | Date listed | Date removed | Location | City or town | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Terrace Apartments |
 |
(#73002260) |
|
253-261 N. Francisco Ave. |
East Garfield Park | These apartments were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Sadly, they were torn down in 1974. However, parts of the building, like its facade (front), were saved and moved to Oak Park in 1977. |
| 2 | Scoville Building |
(#73002261) |
|
619-631 W. Washington |
Near West Side | The Scoville Building was also torn down. |
Key to the List
This table helps you understand the symbols used in the list above:
| This means the place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
| ∞ | This means the place is a Historic district listed on the National Register. A historic district is a group of buildings, sites, or objects that are historically or architecturally related. |
| * | This means the place is a National Historic Landmark and also listed on the National Register. National Historic Landmarks are extra special places that have been recognized as having national importance. |
| ∞ | This means the place is a National Historic Landmark and also a Historic district listed on the National Register. |
Images for kids
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Automatic Electric Company Building
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Building at 900 West Lake Street
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Cermak Road Bridge Historic District
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Chicago and North Western Railway Power House
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Chicago Telephone Company Kedzie Exchange
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Creamery Package Manufacturing Company Building
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Dawson Brothers Plant
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East Village Historic District
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Jennie Foley Building
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Abraham Groesbeck House
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Guyon Hotel
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Home Bank and Trust Company
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International Tailoring Company Building
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Patrick J. King House
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Henry E. Legler Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library
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Lindemann and Hoverson Company Showroom and Warehouse
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Midwest Athletic Club
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John Lothrop Motley School
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Otis Elevator Company Factory Building
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Elizabeth Peabody School
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Polish National Alliance Headquarters
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Produce Terminal Cold Storage Company Building
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St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran School
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Shedd Park Fieldhouse
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J. P. Smith Shoe Company Plant
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Storkline Furniture Corporation Factory
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Story-Camp Rowhouses
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Third Church of Christ, Scientist
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Union Park Hotel
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United States Customs House
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Seth Warner House
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Wholesale Florists Exchange
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National Register of Historic Places listings in West Side Chicago Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.