Workers Cottage Walking Tours
The Chicago Workers Cottage Initiative has prepared several guided walking tours to showcase how workers cottages are an important part of their neighborhood. Our tours are are offered as a "pay what you can" opportunity to let neighbors learn more about the value of these houses. Please consider a donation of $5-$20 either when getting your ticket or on the day of the event to help us further our mission for the preservation of Chicago's workers cottages. Each tour lasts about 1-1/2 hours and involves about a mile of walking.
McKinley Park Cottages Walking Tour
The workers cottage is an important part of the story of Chicago's southwest side. In fact, these disctinctive vernacular houses make up more than a third of the houses in McKinley Park. Learn how these houses came to be built and changed over time by exploring a few blocks of the densest concentrations of Victorian cottages in the area. Hear stories about the builders and past residents of these historic houses and search for remnants of the nearly-forgotten cottage neighborhood of Mopetown.
Saturday June 29, 2024 - 2pm
Logan Square Cottages Walking Tour
Many visitors to Logan Square are familiar with the greystone buildings on the boulevards, but the humbler houses on the side streets were built before those grand manors. Explore the history and beauty of these historic homes in Logan Square and nearby Avondale. Hear the history of these unique vernacular houses, some stories of colorful former residents, and the need for their preservation.
Sunday June 30, 2024 - 2pm
The Workers Cottage: Past, Present and... Future?
The Chicago Workers Cottage Initiative is partnering with the Great Cities Institute at UIC to present a lunchtime lecture on workers cottages as part of Chicago's built environment at noon on March 14, 2024 at the Great Cities Institute at 412 S Peoria.
The brown-bag lecture will discuss the historical development of workers cottages, their importance to Chicago's neighborhood architecture, and their preservation as affordable homes.
We're excited to welcome Professor Joe Bigott, author of From Cottage to Bungalow, and Lucy Gomez Feliciano of the Here to Stay Community Land Trust as guest speakers for the event.
Cottage Lovers Meetup
Stop by The StopAlong at 1812 N. Milwaukee in Wicker Park on April 11, 2024 between 5:30 to 9 pm to meet fellow workers cottage lovers. This social event is for cottage owners, wanna-be cottage owners, and anyone who cares about saving Chicago's iconic workers cottages from demolition!
The StopAlong will provide free pizza, and attendees can order drinks or additional food. We'd love to chat with you about what you love about workers cottages, trade tips on restoring them, and share ideas on their preservation.