Tour of Norwood Park and Edison Park

Come join us this Saturday for a Tour of Norwood Park and Edison Park and a discussion of the architecture and history of the Northwest corner of Chicago and some of its suburbs.  We will meet directly at 11:00 at the Norwood Park Fieldhouse at 5801 N Natoma in Chicago.  Originally conceived as only a tour of Norwood Park, the ride has expanded to include the adjacent far north Community Area of Edison Park. 

Norwood Park is Chicago Community Area #10, sitting 11 miles northwest of the Loop.  Its earliest settlers were European Immigrant farmers.  In 1853, the area was the beneficiary of the new Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad and the area started to grow.  Soon enough, developers sought to capitalize on the picturesque setting and draw nearby Chicagoans to the intended resort community.  In 1868, the Norwood Land and Building Association began creating a new subdivision in the area with curvilinear streets intersecting the traditional rectangle blocks and work began on the Norwood Park Hotel complete with artificial lake.  While the plans did not draw enough from the city to make this plan profitable, the planning of the city did create a desirable place to live. The area incorporated as a village in 1874, and prohibited the sale of alcohol to its citizens and through all businesses.  The village was annexed to Chicago in 1893.

Edison Park is Community Area #9, and sits 13 miles northwest of Chicago, directly north of Norwood Park.  The area is named for inventor Thomas Edison, it joined the city of Chicago in 1910.  Like parts of Park Ridge, West Ridge, Edgewater, Oak Park and other areas in and around Chicagoland, this area was formed from the retreat of glaciers that left behind a ridge between the Des Plaines River on the west and the North Branch of the Chicago River on the east.  The area was used as a portage between the rivers by early travelers to the area and the indigenous people that travelled the area before they arrived. 

Stops on the tour will include the Noble-Seymour-Crippen house, the Norwegian Old People’s Home (built on the site of the Norwood Park Hotel), the Wingert House, The Charles Turzak House, the Danish Old People’s Home and numerous historic parks, schools and religious institutions.  Come join the ride for a brand new tour of Norwood Park and Edison Park.

Buy Tour for $9 | Buy Tour and Poster for $12

Buy Poster for $5

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