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North Avenue, the border between the north side of Oak Park and the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago, is relatively newer than many surrounding neighborhoods. While the buildings along North Avenue post date Frank Lloyd Wright, he golfed here with friends and clients. Many used the area as a place to get away and hide from the City.  It was one of the first automobile oriented commercial strips in the Chicago area. A favorite location for drive-in restaurants, the road west of Oak Park and Galewood – known as State Route 64 – was a renowned teen hangout for street races. 

Architecturally, the area is rich in 1920’s storefronts with highly decorative terra cotta cladding and details. Later buildings were exuberantly mid-century modern. 

Experience the world renowned architecture of our neighborhood, which is just a scant eight miles / twelve kilometres from another equally world renowned and architecturally significant place, the Chicago Loop. 

And besides –North Avenue has lots of great restaurants, stores and cultural attractions to discover and enjoy once you’ve completed the North Avenue Architecture Photo Party.

June 2010 North Avenue Architecture Photo Party is a production of:

North Avenue Business Association

Oak Park Architectural League

Keep following this event anywhere in the world at www.OakParkArchitectureParty.com

The North Avenue Architecture Photo Party has been made possible by:

Visit Oak Park

Oak Park River Forest Historical Foundation

www.3planets.com / www.shopoakpark.com

Heitzman Architects

Babuk Presentations, Inc / www.TourAboutChicago.com

The entire North Avenue Architecture Photo Party / North Avenue Historical Photo Party may be seen in displays located at these NABA Member banks, whom The North Avenue Business Association wishes to thank for their promotional support of the North Avenue Architecture Photo Party:

ABC Bank – North Avenue, Chicago

Charter One Bank – North Avenue, Chicago

Midwest Bank – Harlem Avenue, Elmwood Park 

US Bank – North Avenue, Oak Park

Instructions:

All sites in this month’s scavenger hunt are located in the shaded area, and all sites are easily seen from public sidewalks, roads and right of ways.  None of the sites are private residences.

By walking along public sidewalks and right-of-ways contained within the  area of the Scavenger Hunt Map, locate these architectural features and details, noting their location.

USGS Map of Oak Park and Galewood (Chicago), 1924 - 1925

Not the Minneapolis & St Paul Railway, and not the Funny Train, but probably someplace with a big toy department

These days, it takes up the whole block

Ice cream after the races. (It's the North Pole Drive In in River Forest by Bertrand Goldberg, but does anyone know where it was?)

Where Frank Lloyd Wright schmoozed golf buddies and clients - when it wasn't snowing.

North Avenue, the border between the north side of Oak Park and the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago, is relatively newer than many surrounding neighborhoods. While the buildings along North Avenue post date Frank Lloyd Wright, he golfed here with friends and clients. Many used the area as a place to get away and hide from the City.  It was one of the first automobile oriented commercial strips in the Chicago area. A favorite location for drive-in restaurants, the road west of Oak Park and Galewood – known as State Route 64 – was a renowned teen hangout for street races. 

Architecturally, the area is rich in 1920’s storefronts with highly decorative terra cotta cladding and details. Later buildings were exuberantly mid-century modern. 

Experience the world renowned architecture of our town, which is just a scant eight miles / twelve kilometres from another equally world renowned and architecturally significant place, the Chicago Loop. 

And besides –North Avenue has lots of great restaurants, stores and cultural attractions to discover and enjoy once you’ve completed the North Avenue Architecture Photo Party.

Instructions:

All sites in this month’s scavenger hunt are located in the shaded area, and all sites are easily seen from public sidewalks, roads and right of ways.  None of the sites are private residences.

By walking along public sidewalks and right-of-ways contained within the shaded area of the Scavenger Hunt Map, locate these architectural features and details, noting their location.

June 2010 North Avenue Architecture Photo Party is a production of:

North Avenue Business Association

Oak Park Architectural League

Keep following this event anywhere in the world at www.OakParkArchitectureParty.com

1. A curving entrance to Oak Park

2. Terra cotta surround on a red door

3. The Jetson's probably get their teeth fixed here.

4. A monumental building.

5. It takes up the whole block.

6. Second Empire Exercise.

7. Terra cotta TV

8. Stores with apartments above.

9. Ghost sign on the west wall.

10. Bramante next to the drug store.

11. The softer side of hardware and tools.

12. Fancy brickwork under the flagpole.

13. Holding up an arch on North Avenue.

The North Avenue Business Association has agreed to host and sponsor the June 2010 NABA / Oak Park Architecture Photo Party.  The scavenger hunt images will be unveilled at NABA’s Annual Meeting on May 25 at Cafe LaGuardia.

North Avenue is Oak Park’s northernmost boundary, shared with the Galewood  neighbourhood of Chicago.  It was the last area of Oak Park to be developed; aerial photos of the Chicago side depict the area as golf courses and open space until well into the 1920′s.  Architecturally, North Avenue has a rich inventory of terra cotta.  Post War, it was flambouyantly Mid Century Modern, featuring some of the earliest examples of automobile architecture in the Chicago area.

Brochures describing the June 2010 NABA / Oak Park Architecture Photo Party will be available at Chicago and Oak Park businesses along North Avenue, and at the Oak Park Visitors Center on Lake Street in downtown Oak Park.

Join us for the June 2010 NABA / Oak Park Architecture Photo Party, and use this as a time to discover North Avenue.

SCAVENGER HUNT MAP

All sites in this month’s scavenger hunt are located in the shaded area, and all sites are easily seen from public sidewalks, roads and right of ways. All homes on this map are privately owned.  Please respect the homeowners privacy and remain on public sidewalks.  Some of the sites may be found on the Frank Lloyd Wright Audio Tour.

April 2010 Visitors’ Edition 

Oak Park, Illinois arguably the birthplace of the American suburb, and the American suburban house.  World renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and George Maher not only got their start here, but left their indelible marks on the landscape – physically and culturally. Experience the world renowned architecture of our town, which is just a scant eight miles / twelve kilometres from another equally world renowned and architecturally significant place, the Chicago Loop.  

And besides – Oak Park has lots of great restaurants, stores, hotels, cozy bed & breakfasts and cultural attractions to discover and enjoy once you’ve completed the Oak Park Architecture Photo Party.

Instructions: 

By walking along public sidewalks and right-of-ways contained within the shaded area of the Scavenger Hunt Map (other side), locate these architectural features and details, noting their location.

Oak Park is a living museum containing many private homes that just happen to be world renowned masterpieces.  At no point were any private residences, nor  private property trespassed upon in the production of the Oak Park Architecture Photo Party. Please respect the homeowners privacy and remain on the public sidewalks for the hunt. 

 April 2010 Oak Park Architecture Photo Party is a production of : 

American Institute of Architects / Illinois Council 

Oak Park Architectural League

This edition has been made possible by:

The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust  www.gowright.org

Visit Oak Park   www.visitoakpark.com

Architecture Adventure / Oak Park Education Foundation

Oak Park River Forest Historical Foundation   www.oprfhistory.org

www.3planets.com  / www.shopoakpark.com / www.thesopbox.com 

Heitzman Architects   www.heitzman.org

Babuk Presentations, Inc / www.TourAboutChicago.com   www.LearnAboutChicago.com   www.Babuk.com

Keep following this event anywhere in the world at www.OakParkArchitectureParty.com

Oak Park, Illinois arguably the birthplace of the American suburb, and the American suburban house.  World renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and George Maher not only got their start here, but left their indelible marks on the landscape – physically and culturally.

To celebrate the architecture of Oak Park, and the cultural and economic importance of Oak Park’s architecture, Oak Park Village Council passed a motion at its March 2, 2010 Board Meeting proclaiming “Architecture in Oak Park Week”, to be held April 12 – 18, 2010.

Join in the many festivities being organized !

Were you planning on being someplace else in the world - other than Oak Park, Illinois – during the Oak Park Architecture Photo Party?  Too bad…

But, even if you’re going to be someplace in the world  during the week of April 12 – 18, you can still experience the world renowned architecture of our town, which is just a scant eight miles / twelve kilometres from another equally world renowned and architecturally significant place, the Chicago Loop. 

Just check this website every now and again.

And besides – Oak Park has lots of great restaurants, stores, hotels, cosy bed & breakfasts and cultural attractions to discover and enjoy once you’ve completed the Oak Park Architecture Photo Party.