Chicago’s Quirkiest Sites – II
We enjoyed our first Chicago’s Quirkiest Sites Date Day so much that we decided to do it again. This time we found more dead people, some cool terra cotta houses and a shit fountain. Continue reading to learn all about our Chicago’s Quirkiest Sites Date Day II
Graceland Cemetery
Our first stop was Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery, located on the north side of the city at the intersection of Irving Park Rd. and Clark St. The 119-acre parcel of land is the final resting place of many famous Chicagoans. It’s also a working arboretum.
The Cemetery is wonderfully landscaped and open to all to visit. We made a quick stop in the office to pick up a map that pinpoints many of the significant graves and began our quest to find as many Chicago legends as possible. The office also provides a “Tree Tour” map that identifies many of the distinct trees that are planted around the grounds. We’ll be back in the spring or summer for that one.
As we began our search for Marshall Field, we quickly realized that the map was neither to scale nor completely accurate. There are so many twists, turns and branches on the roads that it would be almost impossible to capture them all on a small (and readable) map. We ultimately developed a system for homing in on our targets and spent a fun hour and a half visiting the graves and learning a little about each person.
As for the graves themselves, they are magnificent. Every time we found our “favorite”, it was surpassed by another. Some of the more memorable ones include;
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (Mar. 27, 1886–Aug. 17, 1969) – Famous Chicago architect. He helped define modern architecture.
Allan Pinkerton (Aug. 25, 1819–July 1, 1884) One of America’s first undercover agents. Founded the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.
Ernie Banks (Jan 31, 1931–Jan. 23, 2015) – Mr. Cub
Marshall Field (Aug. 18, 1834–Jan. 16, 1906) – Yes, that Marshall Field.
Daniel Burnham (Sept. 4, 1846 – June 1, 1912) – Urban planner. Created the 1909 Plan of Chicago.
George Pullman (Mar. 3, 1831–Oct. 19, 1897) – Luxury rail car baron.
Louis Sullivan (Sept. 3, 1856–Apr. 14, 1924) – Architect. Coined the phrase, “form ever follows function.”
Jack Johnson (Mar. 31, 1878–June 10, 1946) – First black heavyweight boxing champion.
Dexter Graves (c.1793–Apr. 29, 1845) – No so famous, but has a creepy bronze statue on his grave called “Eternal Silence”.
Philip Armour (May 16, 1832–Jan. 6, 1901) – Famous for packing meat.
Shit Fountain
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words, “shit fountain”? Luckily that’s not what it is. This Shit Fountain was created by artist Jerzy Kenar, as a tribute to neighborhood dogs that trample and poop on his flowers. It’s also meant to be a not so subtle reminder to pet owners to clean up after their dogs. Either way, it’s an impressive metal pile of pooh on a sandstone pedestal.
Puerto Rican Flags
After seeing the Shit Fountain, we felt like we needed to find something a little more culturally significant. This led us to the intersection Division and Western, in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Here we found two of the largest Puerto Rican flags we have ever seen.
The flags, which were erected in 1995, are 59 feet tall and weigh 45 tons apiece. It’s said they were built by the mayor in an attempt to soothe the communities’ concerns about police brutality and economic injustice. Whatever the reason, the flags are coolly impressive and worth checking out.
Terra Cotta Row
Why was a short stretch of West Oakdale Avenue designated as a Chicago landmark in 2005? It’s there you can find a set of old houses that were once the homes of the officers of the Northwestern Terra Cotta Company. The company was famous for producing highly detailed earthenware works for the likes of Louis Sullivan and Daniel Burnham.
At some point, a corporate genius decided it would be a good idea to use the company’s own products to adorn the houses of its officers. The result was an instant showcase of the different styles and types of terra cotta available for its customers. You can still view the houses, adorned with intricate terra cotta and stained-glass, as you drive or walk by. Take your time and really check out the area. You’ll see an amazing earthenware wall and maybe even a relief of a woman at a spinning wheel etched into a brick.
As we drove away from Terra Cotta Row, we realized that we were hungry, and it was time to find a late lunch. We also realized that we were loving these scavenge hunt-like Date Days and that we would soon work on Chicago’s Quirkiest Sites Date Day III!
January 2019
Graceland Cemetery
4001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
Shit Fountain
1001 North Wolcott, Chicago
Puerto Rican Flags
Intersection of Division St. and Western Ave., Chicago
Terra Cotta Row
1048 West Oakdale Ave, Chicago
