Chicago Trolleys


Book Description

Chicago's extensive transit system first started in 1859, when horsecars ran on rails in city streets. Cable cars and electric streetcars came next. Where new trolley car lines were built, people, businesses, and neighborhoods followed. Chicago quickly became a world-class city. At its peak, Chicago had over 3,000 streetcars and 1,000 miles of track--the largest such system in the world. By the 1930s, there were also streamlined trolleys and trolley buses on rubber tires. Some parts of Chicago's famous "L" system also used trolley wire instead of a third rail. Trolley cars once took people from the Loop to such faraway places as Aurora, Elgin, Milwaukee, and South Bend. A few still run today.




The Unofficial Guide to Chicago


Book Description

From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World "A Tourist's Best Friend!" —Chicago Sun-Times "Indispensable" —The New York Times The Top 10 Ways The Unofficial Guide to Chicago Can Help You Have the Perfect Trip: Information that's candid, critical, and totally objective Hotels reviewed and ranked for value and quality—plus secrets for getting the lowest possible rate More than 70 restaurants reviewed and profiled, with listings for dozens more A complete guide to Chicago's sights—museums, architecture, ethnic neighborhoods, and more Complete information on Chicago's lakefront beaches and parks The inside story on shopping—where to get the best for less, on and off the Magnificent Mile All the details on Chicago's nightlife—jazz and blues clubs, dance clubs, concerts, theater, and more The best places to play golf and tennis, ride a bike, go boating, and work out Tips on enjoying Chicago with your kids Advice on how to plan and make the most of your business trip Get the unbiased truth on hundreds of hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more in The Unofficial Guide to Chicago—the resource that helps you save money, save time, and make your trip the best it can be.




Seats, Chicago


Book Description

(Applause Books). This comprehensive guide to every major entertainment and sports venue in the Chicago/Milwaukee metropolitan area makes attending performing arts, dance, music and sports events incredibly easy and entertaining. The second volume in the Seats series places seating plans, theatre district maps, transportation, hotel, and seasonal festival information right at your fingertips. A full seating plan, colored-coded by price, is provided for each venue, along with all ticket ordering information. The book also includes insider tips on Chicago/Milwaukee theatres featuring Off-Beat Seats, Theatre Companies, Seats for Kids & Students, and Four Seasons of Free Seats. Whether you want to catch the opera at the Civic Opera House, some laughs at Second City, a performance at the historical Pabst Theater or the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Seats: Chicago is your guide to the best seats in the house! Also available: Seats: New York (00314598) Praise for Seats: New York : " Seats is a clear, informative and beautiful guide for those seeking the best seats in New York theatres and halls." Richard Nelson, Tony Award-winning playwright "I know how important a good seat can be for the enjoyment of a classical performance. Concert hall seat selection is usually complicated and confusing, but Seats makes it easy." Maestro Robert Craft, author and conductor, associate of Igor Stravinsky




Chicago For Dummies


Book Description

From the incredible new Millennium Park to the Magnificent Mile, Cubs games to theater, intimate jazz haunts to grand symphony halls, deep-dish pizza to 5 Star dining, art boutiques to incredible museums, Chicago has it all. And this guide makes exploring the Windy City a breeze with: Info on how to get around A shopper’s guide for power shopping or bargain hunting 4 great itineraries that help you make the most of your time 10 “Oh-so-Chicago” experiences Like every For Dummies travel guide, Chicago For Dummies, Third Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss—and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages




Twin Cities by Trolley


Book Description

The recent development of light rail transit in the Twin Cities has been an undeniable success. Plans for additional lines progress, and our ways of shopping, dining, and commuting are changing dramatically. As we embrace riding the new Hiawatha light rail line, an older era comes to mind—the age when everyone rode the more than 500 miles of track that crisscrossed the Twin Cities. In Twin Cities by Trolley, John Diers and Aaron Isaacs offer a rolling snapshot of Minneapolis and St. Paul from the 1880s to the 1950s, when the streetcar system shaped the growth and character of the entire metropolitan area. More than 400 photographs and 70 maps let the reader follow the tracks from Stillwater to University Avenue to Lake Minnetonka, through Uptown to downtown Minneapolis. The illustrations show nearly every neighborhood in Minneapolis and St. Paul as it was during the streetcar era. At its peak in the 1920s and early 1930s, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company (TCRT) operated over 900 streetcars, owned 523 miles of track, and carried more than 200 million passengers annually. Recounting the rise and fall of the TCRT, Twin Cities by Trolley explores the history, organization, and operations of the streetcar system, including life as a streetcar operator and the technology, design, and construction of the cars. Inspiring fond memories for anyone who grew up in the Twin Cities, Twin Cities by Trolley leads readers on a fascinating and enlightening tour of this bygone era in the neighborhood and the city they call home. John W. Diers has worked in the transit industry for thirty-five years, including twenty-five years at the Twin Cities Metropolitan Transit Commission. He has written for Trains, and has served on the board of the Minnesota Transportation Museum. Aaron Isaacs worked with Metro Transit for thirty-three years. He is the author of Twin City Lines—The 1940s and The Como-Harriet Streetcar Line. He is also the editor of Railway Museum Quarterly.




Chicago's Lost "L"s


Book Description

Chicago's system of elevated railways, known locally as the "L," has run continuously since 1892 and, like the city, has never stood still. It helped neighborhoods grow, brought their increasingly diverse populations together, and gave the famous Loop its name. But today's system has changed radically over the years. Chicago's Lost "L"s tells the story of former lines such as Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Kenwood, Stockyards, Normal Park, Westchester, and Niles Center. It was once possible to take high-speed trains on the L directly to Aurora, Elgin, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The L started out as four different companies, two starting out using steam engines instead of electricity. Eventually, all four came together via the Union Loop. The L is more than a way of getting around. Its trains are a place where people meet and interact. Some say the best way to experience the city is via the L, with its second-story view. Chicago's Lost "L"s is virtually a "secret history" of Chicago, and this is your ticket.




Fodor's Chicago


Book Description

Written by locals, Fodor’s Chicago is the perfect guidebook for those looking for insider tips to make the most out their visit. Complete with detailed maps and concise descriptions, this Chicago travel guide will help you plan your trip with ease. Fodor's Chicago is the perfect companion for a trip to this quintessential American city. With colorful features and the most updated information, Fodor's Chicago gets straight to the best of what the "Second City" has to offer, everything from art and architecture to shopping, baseball, jazz, and the very best deep-dish pizza. Our in-depth coverage also includes the best of Chicago's culturally and historically rich suburbs, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Oak Park home studio, the Mallott Japanese Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the Brookfield Zoo. Fodor’s Chicago includes: •UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE: Fully updated, including fresh reviews of the best new eateries and lodgings in Chicago's many exciting neighborhoods. •ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE: A spectacular color photo guide highlights the ultimate unmissable experiences and attractions throughout Chicago to inspire you. •DETAILED MAPS: Full-color and full-size street maps throughout will help you plan efficiently and get around confidently. •GORGEOUS PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: Rich, full-color features invite you to experience the best of Chicago, from what to eat and drink to which tours take. An in-depth illustrated feature on the Art Institute of Chicago helps you make the most of a visit to this magnificent museum; a history of the skyscraper explores the city's iconic architecture. Other features focus on the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright and blues music. •ITINERARIES AND TOP RECOMMENDATIONS: Walking tours help you plan and make the most of your time to explore Chicago's best public art and iconic architectural highlights. A useful itinerary helps you plan three days in the windy city. Includes suggestions on what to see, where to eat, stay, and shop as well as information about nightlife, sports and the outdoors. “Fodor’s Choice” designates our best picks in every category. •INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Convenient overviews show each neighborhood and its highlights, as well as tips for planning your time and getting around by car, bus, and train. Mapped walks, top tour recommendations, and our curated list of free things to do make planning a breeze. •SPECIAL EVENT COVERAGE: Information for experiencing the Chicago Air and Water Show , the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, and the Taste of Chicago, to name just a few. •COVERS: The Magnificent Mile, the Chicago Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Wrigley Field, Navy Pier, the Loop, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and more. ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor’s has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. Planning on visiting other great U. S. cities? Check out Fodor’s Washington D.C., Fodor's New Orleans, and Fodor’s New York.







The Rough Guide to Chicago


Book Description

The Rough Guide to Chicago is the ultimate travel guide with clear maps and detailed coverage of all the best attractions Chicago has to offer. Discover the pulsating metropolis of Chicago from the Gospel brunch at the House of Blues, a heavenly but fattening experience, to the Oak Street Beach, the glorious summertime playground in a somewhat unexpected location. Packed with detailed, practical advice on what to see and do in Chicago, this guide provides reliable, up-to-date descriptions of the best hotels in Chicago, Chicago's best bars and recommended restaurants, and tips on the best shopping and festivals in Chicago for all budgets. Featuring detailed coverage on a full range of attractions; from the Maxwell Street Market and Steppenwolf Theatre, to boat trips on the Chicago River and the Ravinia Festival, you'll find expert tips on exploring Chicago's amazing attractions with an authoritative background on Chicago's rich culture and history. Explore all corners of Chicago with the clearest maps of any guide. Make the most of your holiday with The Rough Guide to Chicago.




The Green Hornet Street Car Disaster


Book Description

As rush hour came to a close on the evening of May 25, 1950, one of Chicago's new fast, colorful, streamlined streetcars—known as a Green Hornet—slammed into a gas truck at State Street and 62nd Place. The Hornet's motorman allegedly failed to heed the warnings of a flagger attempting to route it around a flooded underpass, and the trolley, packed with commuters on their way home, barreled into eight thousand gallons of gasoline. The gas erupted into flames, poured onto State Street, and quickly engulfed the Hornet, shooting flames two hundred and fifty feet into the air. More than half of the passengers escaped the inferno through the rear window, but thirty-three others perished, trapped in front of the streetcar's back door, which failed to stay open in the ensuing panic. It was Chicago's worst traffic accident ever—and the worst two-vehicle traffic accident in US history. Unearthing a forgotten chapter in Chicago lore, The Green Hornet Streetcar Disaster tells the riveting tale of this calamity. Combing through newspaper accounts as well as the Chicago Transit Authority's official archives, Craig Cleve vividly brings to life this horrific catastrophe. Going beyond the historical record, he tracks down individuals who were present on that fateful day on State and 62nd: eyewitnesses, journalists, even survivors whose lives were forever changed by the accident. Weaving these sources together, Cleve reveals the remarkable combination of natural events, human error, and mechanical failure that led to the disaster, and this moving history recounts them—as well as the conflagration's human drama—in gripping detail.