Literary Tourism: Chicago, Take 3
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Chicago is my home and I am proud of it. Regular readers of my work know that I don’t hide it at all as evidenced by my posts about 5 Chicago Women Artists. So I’ve put together a list of places and events that are worthy of your tourism. There are many places not mentioned because they have been mentioned in prior Literary Tourist articles at Book Riot, linked at the bottom of the piece.
I love love love Studs Terkel. He was the quintessential Chicagoan who was an oral historian, radio host, writer, and so much more. Studs Terkel interviewed everyone on a variety of topics for his books and his show. The “Good War”: An Oral History of WWII changed my life as it made me understand that history was far more than Great White Men History and there was room for many voices. He and his wife’s ashes are said to be scattered at Washington Square Park (901 N Clark St.). The park is also known as Bughouse Square for the history of soapbox speeches. Nearby is the amazing Newberry Library.
The Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington St.) is on the list because it was central public library starting in 1897 and became a cultural center in 1991. The building has wondrous public exhibitions that change multiple times per year that are worth checking out. Past exhibitions include a giant mural painted by Keith Haring and Chicago school children, Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests, and paintings by Archibald Motley. But the building itself is also astonishing with what is claimed to be the largest Tiffany dome, mosaic ceilings with literary quotations. They also have great events including musical performances.
Authors
I’ll start with the great Chicago born or Chicago based authors. Fair warning, these are just the public locations associated with authors. They do not have houses set aside for these people…yet. These places include houses, bars, parks and much more that these authors have lived in.Washington Square Park – Studs Terkel
I love love love Studs Terkel. He was the quintessential Chicagoan who was an oral historian, radio host, writer, and so much more. Studs Terkel interviewed everyone on a variety of topics for his books and his show. The “Good War”: An Oral History of WWII changed my life as it made me understand that history was far more than Great White Men History and there was room for many voices. He and his wife’s ashes are said to be scattered at Washington Square Park (901 N Clark St.). The park is also known as Bughouse Square for the history of soapbox speeches. Nearby is the amazing Newberry Library.
Rainbo Club – Nelson Algren
This divey bar (1150 N Damen Ave) was a hangout of Nelson Algren back in the day. It still retains its diveyness with its red stools, dim decor, and filled with hipsters. Nelson Algren is best known for his love poem to Chicago Chicago: City on the Make. He is known for showing other side of Chicago: the people down on their luck, the addicts, the gamblers.Jane Addams Hull House Museum- Jane Addams
I’m very passionate about Jane Addams. The Hull House (800 S Halsted St.) has been converted into a little museum of her life. Jane Addams famously wrote about her resident house in 20 Years at Hull House. The museum also has interesting programming with a significant social justice bent.Various in Humboldt Park and Logan Square – Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein was one of my childhood favorites. He’s known for books of poetry like Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. And if you are a Johnny Cash fan and are familiar with the song “A Boy Named Sue”…that was penned by Shel Silverstein. The poet has ties with Logan Square and Humboldt Park during his childhood. illustrator Phil Thompson created an extensive Google map of locations.House – Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks is another classic Chicago poet and author. She wrote A Street in Bronzeville, won a Pulitzer for Annie Allen, and so much more. Also I have to make a special shout out to one of her most famous poems: “We Real Cool”. Her home on 7428 S. Evans Avenue was where she lived from 1953 to 1994. For more info, check out this article about her life and coming to Chicago.Libraries
There are many wonderful libraries in Chicago that are worthy of visiting.Harold Washington Library
This is the mothership of libraries for the Chicago Public Library system. It’s a huge building with an incredible roof in downtown Chicago (400 S State St.). There are floors upon floors of books including fiction, business, music, and much more. There’s also a lot of other features to the building including music practice rooms, a makerspace with daily classes, an auditorium, rotating special exhibitions, and much more.Art Institute Ryerson & Burnham Libraries
While Art Institute (111 S. Michigan) is world renowned, the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries doesn’t get enough credit. It’s not a circulating library but it is worth checking out. They have works on “architecture of the 18th through 20th centuries and 19th century painting, prints, drawings, and decorative arts. Special collections include the Percier and Fontaine Collection of 17th-19th century architectural books, the Mary Reynolds Collection on Dada and Surrealism, the George R. Collins Archive of Catalan Art and Architecture, and the Mrs. James Ward Thorne Collection of illustrated books” (AIC website). They also have some lovely exhibitions in the Reading Room as well. You do have to buy a ticket or be a member to use the library, however.The Chicago Cultural Center
Keith Haring Mural Exhibition
