A Brief History Of Chicagos Clark Street

As one of the most infamous streets in the city of Chicago, Clark Street is eight miles of historic landmarks, cemeteries and attractions for both locals and tourists alike. This north-south street runs by the shore of Lake Michigan and is mostly known for Wrigley Field, Graceland Cemetery, Chicago History Museum and the Metro concert hall.
Clark Street runs diagonally from north (by Evanston) to south (2200 South) totaling to about 98 blocks of land. Clark Street was named for George Rogers Clark, an American Revolutionary War soldier who captured most of the Northwest Territory from the British. Clark Street is one of the original streets laid out by James Thompson in the Loop in his 1830 plat of Chicago. From North Avenue (in Old Town), it follows part of the path of an Indian trail called the Green Bay Trail, which used to run all the way to Green Bay, Wisconsin.

In the 1950s, Clark Street was home to the first Puerto Ricans in Chicago (between Ohio and Armitage) and was officially known as La Clark by the Puerto Ricans that lived there. Clark Street is not only an infamous street because of the many landmarks and neighborhoods that it passes through but also because of the events that have occurred on this street. Back in 1929, the building of 2122 North Clark Street became the site of the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre. Although this building no longer stands, this is where the struggle between the Irish-American gang versus Al Capone and his South Side Italian gang members occurred. Al Capone had planned to take control of organized crime in Chicago by murdering George ‘Bugs’ Moran, the boss of the long-established North Side gang.

Today, Clark Street is also famous for passing the Rock & Roll McDonald’s in River North, the Clark Street Bridge over the Chicago River, and continuing through the Loop between City Hall and the Daley Center.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.