Printer's Row, Chicago facts for kids
Printers Row, also known as Printing House Row, is a special neighborhood in Chicago. It's located just south of the main downtown area called the Loop. Imagine a rectangle on a map: Printers Row stretches from Ida B. Wells Drive in the north to Polk Street in the south. On the east, you'll find Plymouth Court, and to the west is the Chicago River.
This area got its name because many buildings here used to be busy centers for printing and publishing books and newspapers. Today, most of these old buildings have been turned into cool homes called residential lofts. The last printing company, Palmer Printing, moved out in 2018. The neighborhood also includes Dearborn Station, a historic train station.
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Exploring Printers Row Buildings
Many of the buildings in Printers Row are quite old and have interesting stories. One important building is the M.A. Donohue & Co. Building. You can find it at Plymouth Court and Polk Street.
Another famous building is the Franklin Building. It's made of red brick and has colorful tiles. These tiles show pictures of people who worked in printing, like bookbinders and typesetters. There's even a tile mural showing the "first impression" of the Gutenberg Bible. This was one of the very first books ever printed!
Around 1949 to 1952, a road called Ida B. Wells Drive (it was called Congress Parkway back then) was built through the area. This road actually split the historic buildings into two main parts: the Printing House Row District and the South Loop Printing House District.
Learning in Printers Row
Printers Row is a great place for students! Many schools are located here. Younger students in the area go to South Loop School. Older students attend Phillips Academy High School. Jones College Prep High School is also nearby, at 700 S State Street.
The neighborhood is also a hub for college students. The University Center of Chicago (UCC) is here, providing homes for over 3,000 college students. Other student housing buildings include Dwight Lofts and 731 South Plymouth Court, which belong to Columbia College Chicago. Several colleges and universities have campuses in this area, such as Roosevelt University, Columbia College, Robert Morris University, UIC Law School, and the Loop campus of DePaul University.
Getting Around Printers Row
It's easy to get around Printers Row using public transportation. The CTA has train stations nearby. You can catch the Red Line at the Harrison Station. The Blue Line is available at the LaSalle Station.
Fun Events in Printers Row
Every year in early June, Printers Row hosts a big event called the Printers Row Literary Festival. People often call it "Lit Fest." It's a celebration of books and reading, and it takes place along Dearborn Street. It's a fun way to explore the neighborhood's history with printing and books!
