Visitors Guide CITY OF BLUE ISLAND Blue Island City Hall 13051 Greenwood Avenue Blue Island, Illinois 60406 Phone 708.396.7035 Web www.blueisland.org Email [email protected] This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior. This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity Equal Employment Opportunity Office National Park Service OR Illinois Historic Preservation Agency 1849 C Street, NW, Old State Capitol Plaza Washington, D.C. 20240 Springfield, IL 62701 The Blue Island Visitor Guide is being supported in part by a Preserve America grant administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Welcome What’s inside? Welcome to Blue Island, Illinois! Welcome The next time you’re thinking “outside Blue Island is a Welcome to Blue Island...............................1 the Loop,” come to Blue Island! We’re diverse, vibrant The City of Blue Island..................................2 easy to reach—25 minutes south of community with a Blue Island History.........................................3 Chicago’s loop by car or aboard one of 100+ weekday Metra trains. However friendly atmosphere, Attractions you arrive, you’ll find a beautiful city noteworthy architec- List of Attractions......................................4–9 with small-town charm. Everything we Film .....................................................................9 ture, and natural have to offer is within an easy walk— Lodging.............................................................9 beauty. Shopping, and an even easier bike ride. Attractions Map....................................10, 11 dining, professional Architecture Start with the Blue Island Walking Tour services, and jobs are (page 12) to experience one of the Architectural Tour Descriptions ......12, 13 within easy reach of Architectural Tour Map.......................14, 15 metro area's most beautiful residential neighborhoods along tree-lined streets. most homes, either Businesses Stop at splendid Memorial Park to by efficient transit, List of Businesses and Map...............16, 17 enjoy a few minutes on a shaded park bike, or walking. Annual Events bench. Then visit our "main street" List of Events..........................................18, 19 district with its unique shops featuring Special Links..................................................19 antiques, gifts, home, garden and a wide range of other specialties. Transportation Within Easy Reach.......................................20 When you’re ready for a meal, choose BI and Surrounding Map ..........................21 from many dining options, including Media authentic Mexican restaurants to old In the News.............................................22, 23 world Italian, to spicy Cajun. You’ll find some of our best restaurants along a Facts few blocks on Olde Western Avenue in Blue Island Facts ..........................................24 the historic canal area. Blue Island is also home to some amazing bakeries and friendly taverns. Stroll through the pages of this book and plan to spend some time with us! Blue Island City Hall 13051 Greenwood Avenue Blue Island, Illinois 60406 Phone 708.396.7035 Web www.blueisland.org Email [email protected] © 2011 City of Blue Island, Illinois Blue Island: Think Outside the Loop 1 Welcome The City of Blue Island Blue Island History Welcome Blue Island is a 4.5-square mile city of Set on the southern edge of an ancient Chicago approximately 23,000 people. It borders glacial ridge, Blue Island was settled in Chicago’s Beverly/Morgan Park 1835, making it one of the oldest com- neighborhood. munities in Cook County. In 1834, the Chicago Democrat observed, “...the The City of Blue Island is governed by a ridge, when viewed from a distance, city council consisting of a mayor and appears standing in an azure mist of Blue Island 14 Aldermen representing seven wards. vapor, hence the appellation, Blue Economic Growth Island.” Norman and Julia Rexford are celebrated as the first permanent resi- Local businesses and government are dents. Their hotel, the Blue Island House, City or active in preserving Blue Island’s unique served travelers along the historic suburb? character while fostering growth. Vincennes Trail, which connected the The Blue Island Plan for Economic settlement to Fort Dearborn in Chicago. Development, adopted in 2005, is our Blue Island grew rapidly as the Calumet Blue Islanders have blueprint to revitalize the City’s econ- feeder canal opened in 1848, along with always been proud omy by leveraging its variety of the first rail line—the Rock Island—in of their independent transportation alternatives, strong 1852. The Illinois Central arrived in 1892. These tracks, now operated by city. Over the years, industrial infrastructure, proximity to many universities and colleges, and Metra, continue to serve Blue Island, as Blue Island and some of the finest heath care facilities does the 1868 depot built by the Rock Chicago have grown in the region. Island Railroad. toward each other. Uniquely Affordable Now Blue Island Housing and transportation costs are borders Chicago’s significantly lower in Blue Island than in southwest corner. most of its neighboring communities, Germans were the first of the many thanks to the city’s excellent public waves of immigrants to find a new transportation services, as well as its home in Blue Island. Their influence pedestrian-friendly streets. was marked by the four breweries that Preserve America Community operated here beginning in the 1850s. In March of 2008, the City of Blue Island was designated a Preserve Blue Island’s early twentieth century America Community; one of only 843 history was dominated by railroading communities nationwide. To be a and heavy industry. Clay left by the Preserve America Community you have glacial lake bed made Blue Island the to protect and celebrate your heritage, brick-making capital of the world in the use historic assets for economic devel- late 1800s. Since then, our businesses Just stand in the opment and community revitalization, and manufacturers have exported a center of downtown and encourage people to experience wide variety of products—from beer, Blue Island, however, and appreciate local historic resources brooms, and cigars, to dental equipment, produce, condiments, and railroad cars. and you’ll understand through education and heritage tourism programs. why Blue Island is Famed nineteenth century historian, still beloved as a city Alfred Andreas, described Blue Island as “among the prettiest little suburban unto itself! towns in the West.” Today, Blue Island’s charms continue to be discovered. For more information about the history of Blue Island and adjacent communities contact Blue Island Historical Society: BIHS/Albee House 13018 Maple Avenue Blue Island, IL 60406 Phone: 708.371.8546 Email: [email protected] 2 Blue Island: Think Outside the Loop Blue Island: Think Outside the Loop 3 Blue Island Attractions Plenty of parking and easy to reach by train or bus! THINK HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS THINK HISTORY Attractions & INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE 1 Olde Western Historic District (Olde Western Ave, south of Cal-Sag Channel) 5 Blue Island Crossing (RR crossing at Broadway, east of Vine) Protected by the Calumet feeder canal, the Railfans from across the US and around the Attractions Olde Western Historic District was left intact during the Fire of 1896. The two-block world have made the journey to the fabled district contains homes and businesses “Blue Island Crossing,” where four lines con- from the pre-Civil War period of German verge at a single junction. Eight tracks cross settlement, such as the pioneer Friedrich Broadway Ave backdropped by five truss Jebens, whose hardware store was estab- bridges crossing the Cal-Sag Channel to lished in 1876 and today is the oldest the north and an overhead commuter line continuously-operated business on the Dixie to the south, Metra’s Rock Island District. Highway in Illinois. Hungry? Olde Western The Rock first pulled into Blue Island in Historic District is home to numerous desti- 1852, and its 1868 Depot, a Blue Island nation restaurants—including Maple Tree Landmark, still stands at Vermont Street Inn, Guiseppe’s, Mario’s Tacos, and much more. Station. Since that day, Blue Island has grown to become a premier railroading hot spot. 2 James Street Historic District (Olde Western Ave at James St) 6 Historic Route Dixie Highway Part of the National Auto Trail system, Dixie Hidden between the north bank of the Highway was a U.S. auto route first planned Cal-Sag Channel and the Corner of Olde in 1914 to connect the Midwest with the Western and James St (not to be confused Southern States. The Western division, with Olde Western south), the James