Name: NEW! Walking Tour | History of the South Loop
Start: 2026-08-23T13:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-08-23T15:00:00-05:00
Location: Harold Washington Public Library

City Tour, Walking Tour

NEW! Walking Tour | History of the South Loop

Date

Sunday, August 23, 2026
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location

Harold Washington Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago, IL United States

Tickets

$22.50 members

$25 non-members

BUY TICKETS

The South Loop has seen it all: railroads, vice, political corruption, fire, Printers Row, abandonment, and historic buildings—several of which have been repurposed for condo living.

Join local Chicago historian Greg Borzo for a stroll through this colorful, historically rich neighborhood.

$25, $22.50 members

Meet at Harold Washington Public Library, 400 S. State Street; the tour is about 1.5 miles with sites and commentary all along the way.

Tour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum, good for one week from tour date.

Masks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.  

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Funland Arcade on State Street in the South Loop neighborhood, Chicago, August 11, 1971. CHM, ICHi-182600; Sigmund J. Osty, photographer

Central Station residential development in the South Loop between East Roosevelt Road and East Cullerton Street, Chicago, August 7, 1996. ST-19041044-0008, Chicago Sun-Times collection, CHM

Aerial view-East Pilsen-South Loop-Chinatown_ICHi-176172

Aerial view facing South showing railyards near the Chicago River, featuring East Pilsen, South Loop, and Chinatown, Chicago. CHM, ICHi-176172; Robert M. Lightfoot, photographer

About the Guide

Greg Borzo is an award-winning writer, speaker, and historian whose books include Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains, Where to Bike Chicago, Lost Restaurants of Chicago, and The Chicago “L.” Borzo holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and has worked as a full-time writer at Modern Railroads Magazine (Editor-in-Chief), The Field Museum (Science Writer), and the University of Chicago (News Officer), among other roles.