Walking Tour of Old Town & Gold Coast Area Chicago

Be sure to enjoy the podcast and the accompanying photos at the bottom of the page.

You don’t need to be an architectural expert to simply look around and enjoy the various styles and building materials that combine to make up Chicago’s diverse urban landscape.

There is probably no better place to begin your observation than the Old Town / Gold Coast area with its abundance of 19th Century wood and brick buildings harkening back to the the city’s roots side-by-side with glass and steel modern, post modern, late modern, and millennium modern examples both large and small.

In these two neighborhoods in the heart of the city you will easily find single family homes and multi-family structures ranging from two to over two hundred units, as well as a myriad of commercial structures some of which were built for their specific purpose and others that have been redeveloped to meet the changing needs of a growing metropolis.

This activity was inspired by Open House Chicago which takes place every year in October and according to their website featured more than 150 sites in 20+ neighborhoods across Chicago and nearby suburbs.  My choices were selected from a list of suggestions that were part of this year’s Open House Chicago Program.

As a result my tour is in no way a comprehensive look at the area but instead is an opportunity to take a peek at some of the often overlooked gems that are lurking under our nose on a daily basis.

During the weekend event visitors are treated to some special access and information provided by onsite experts however there is no reason not to follow my tour at any time during the year. In addition I have included a few bonus items not on the suggested list of venues that I spotted along the way.

So lace up some sturdy shoes, put on your earbuds and join me on my podcast walking tour or review the pictures below then sit back in a comfy chair to enjoy my three and a half mile stroll around the Old Town / Gold Coast area observing some of its lesser known features.

[Photos and tour by Reno Lovison]