Brick of Chicago Neighborhood Tours Kick off May 2022
Brick of Chicago kicks off its neighborhood architecture walking tours this month, offering a unique Chicago activity for Spring and Summer. These intimate tours invite residents and visitors to explore one of seven Chicago neighborhoods and open their eyes to the "wonder of brick" and the unexpected stories and buildings that make up our dynamic city.
The Brick of Chicago walking tours are developed and led by Will Quam, a local architecture photographer and historian who is hailed as "Chicago's premier brick expert." While brick is the jumping off point of each tour, Quam intertwines Chicago history, policy, story, and humor as guests traverse each street. From the handcrafted greystones of Logan Square, to the gilded-age mansions of Bronzeville, to the quaint workers cottages of McKinley Park, the tours highlight the individuality of each Chicago neighborhood.
"Brick is just the beginning," says Will Quam. "The Old Town building you walk past every day was once home to a woman who ran an illegal pet apartment in the 1940s or the Logan Square loft building down your block was built as a Ford Dealership- financed by one of Chicago's gambling leaders with ties to Al Capone."
The Brick of Chicago neighborhood tours bring these stories to life.
The Brick of Chicago neighborhood tours take place in Old Town, Logan Square, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Rogers Park, Fulton Market, and McKinley Park. Tours are about an hour and a half, spanning approximately 1.5 miles. Tickets start at $12 and are available for purchase at www.brickofchicago.com.
Brick of Chicago walking tours run May-November, with new tour dates being released one month in advance. Those interested can sign up for the Brick of Chicago newsletter to be notified when new dates go on sale.
Dates and times for Brick of Chicago neighborhood tours for MAY and JUNE are as follows:
• Friday, May 20 6 p.m. - Logan Square
• Saturday, May 21 10:30 a.m. - Hyde Park
• Saturday, May 21 3 p.m. - Old Town
• Sunday, May 22 10:30 a.m. - Logan Square
• Sunday, May 22 3 p.m. - Rogers Park
• Thursday, May 26 6 p.m. - Fulton Market
• Saturday, May 28 10:30 a.m. - Old Town
• Saturday, May 28 3 p.m. - Bronzeville
• Sunday, May 29 10:30 a.m. - Old Town
• Sunday, May 29 3 p.m. - Hyde Park
• Monday, May 30 3 p.m. - Logan Square
• Saturday, June 4 10:30 a.m. - McKinley Park
• Saturday, June 4 3 p.m. - Bronzeville
• Sunday, June 5 10:30 a.m. - Logan Square
• Sunday, June 5 3 p.m. - Old Town
• Friday, June 10 6 p.m. - Fulton Market
• Saturday, June 11 10:30 a.m. - Hyde Park
• Saturday, June 11 3 p.m. - McKinley Park
• Sunday, June 12 10:30 a.m. - Rogers Park
• Sunday, June 12 3 p.m. - Logan Square
• Wednesday, June 15 6 p.m. - Old Town
The Brick of Chicago neighborhood tours makes one promise to tour-goers: You'll never look at the built world (or the humble brick) the same way again. Whether you're a history buff, Chicago fan, brick enthusiast, or simply someone looking for a weekend activity, these hidden gem tours offer something for everyone and are sure to delight and inspire.
About Brick of Chicago:
Founded by Will Quam in 2016, Brick of Chicago started as a personal photography project to pay more attention to the world around him and encourage others to do the same. He began documenting buildings and designs from his walks and sharing them to the @BrickOfChicago Instagram page. A few years and a few thousand photos later, Quam's Instagram page has amassed over 20,000 followers. Quam later launched the Brick of Chicago walking tours- named one of Chicago's best by Curbed Chicago and The Chicago Reader. Coined as "Chicago's premier brick expert," Quam hopes Brick of Chicago will inspire others that nothing is boring. Even brick. For more information: www.BrickOfChicago.com