Historic Sites in Chicago Ridge

"LaSalle St.Architects: Daniel Burnham & John Root/Frank Lloyd Wright. On the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1972, The Rookery is located in Chicago’s downtown Financial District. It was constructed during a transitional period in architectural history, using both load-bearing masonry and a skeletal frame, which are distinguishing elements of the Chicago School of Architecture."

"The Rookery is an iconic building, positioned in heart of downtown Chicago's financial district. The building, a mashup of modern building techniques (elevators and fireproofing) and traditional design (ornamental brick facades), was completed in 1888 by Burnham and Root. In 1905, Frank Lloyd Wright remodeled the lobby with white marble and Persian-style ornamentation."

"Source: Photo by user Esther Westerveld used under CC BY 2.0. One of the finest building in the United States, the Rookery Building is an absolute architectural treat. The interior light court maximizes the natural light entering the building."

"Circle back toward the river, making a quick stop inside Macy’s State Street which is designated as a National Historic Landmark thanks to magnificent touches that make it feel more like a museum than a department store. Of note are the Great Clocks which weigh seven tonnes each, granite pillars that are the second-tallest of their type in the world, and the ornate Tiffany Ceiling which was painstakingly designed from 1.6 million pieces of hand-fired iridescent glass."

"3162 North Broadway Street Chicago, IL 60657 (773) 281-6111 www.hisstuffchicago.com. His Stuff offers attire for men who are in touch with their inner fashionisto. The clothing in this boutique can be gaudy, or casual, but they will never be outdated."

"One of the biggest department stores in the world and recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Flex your plastic around eight floors of amazing fashion, from DKNY to Ralph Lauren to Michael Kors."

"Of the numerous buildings that Frank Lloyd Wright designed around Chicago, none is more famous or influential than Robie House. Because its horizontal lines resembled the flat landscape of the Midwestern prairie, the style became known as the Prairie style. Inside are 174 stained-glass windows and doors, which you'll see on the hour-long tours (frequency varies by season, but there's usually at least one tour per hour). Advance tickets are highly recommended."

"Named one of the 10 most significant buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects, the 9,000-square-foot Robie…"

"Lisa Lubin is an established travel/food writer and photographer, video consultant, three-time Emmy®-award winning TV producer, and travel industry expert. After more than a decade in broadcast television she took a sabbatical and traveled around the world for three years. She has been blogging atLLworldtour.comsince 2006."

"The timeless Chicago hotel has all the fame and historic charm to make your green-eyed followers even more envious of your travels."

"Wright designed and built his first home in 1889, on the strength of a $5,000 loan from his then employer and mentor, seminal Chicago…"

"Known for its limestone gatehouse and highly decorated columbarium niches, which are composed of photographs, artwork, flags, and other mementos of individuals whose ashes are stored there, this cemetery, established by Chicago's Czech community in 1877, also features storied mausoleums, stained glass images and a special dedication to Chicago Cubs fans. It's a quieter, welcome alternative to public parks that often draw rambunctious young children."

"The list of great Chicago parks is long but we’d be remiss if we didn’t include: Washington Park, one of the cities biggest and best parks, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe; Ping Tom Memorial Park (originally a railroad yard) in Armour Square; the 55-acre Horner Park in Albany Park; Portage Park; Northerly Island, where many concerts are held in the summer; and Oz Park in Lincoln Park, a kid-friendly sculpture park featuring "The Wizard of Oz" creations."

"Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago photo courtesy of Ranvestel Photographic. Located just east of Millennium Park, the new park recently opened the ribbon ice rink this winter. The rest of the 25-acre park, which will feature a playground for kids and many picnic tables and benches, is slated to open in 2015."

"Maggie Daley Park is also located in the Loop and is home to the city’s only outdoor climbing park. You can also go ice skating during the winter months on the famous ‘skating ribbon’. The park also has spots to picnic in with the family and a tennis court to enjoy a game."

"The Helen Brach Primate House is yet another extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo and is home to primates of varying shapes, sizes and colour. The area is made in a way to imitate the natural habitat for the primates to make them feel safe and familiar at the place that they are residing in. It was opened back in 1927 which finally underwent an extensive renovation in the year 1992."

"An alternative to Lincoln Park is Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo, located in the nearby western suburb of (you guessed it) Brookfield. Brookfield Zoo is spread out over 200 acres and offers larger, cage-less exhibits such as Tropic World, a massive indoor habitat with three distinct environments, filled with primates from around the globe. 1st Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield, Ill., 708-688-8000."

"Not only is Brookfield Zoo a wonderful place to visit the animals, it’s also a world leader in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Admission is free for zoo members and all active, reservist, and retired members of the military."

"Spend the day among more than 2,000 animals at this gigantic zoo. The highlights? First, there's the 7½-acre Great Bear Wilderness…"

"Lincoln Park Zoo is a renowned 35-acre zoo in Lincoln Park and a hotspot for tourists. It’s the zoo’s pavilion, designed to provide shelter for open-air on-site classes, that offers such a fantastically picturesque snap. With the design drawing inspiration from the appearance of a tortoise’s shell, the stunning curved wooden pavilion elegantly frames the Chicago skyline."