Lemont Limestone Tour in Chicago
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In cooperation with Lemont Outdoors, we are expanding our trails and tours to attract tourists who are fit.
We have a new tour of historic sites in downtown Chicago made with our native Lemont limestone. We travel by car to park at Huron and St. Clair public parking, which is only two blocks from Michigan Avenue. We walk up Michigan only three blocks to the Old Watertower and see the informative signs and photos inside. It’s fun to watch people and the horse-drawn carriages that travel around the loop. Then we go over to the Waterworks, next to Watertower Place and see the old pump house. From there we go west to Wabash and Superior Streets to see Holy Name Cathedral, walking around the outside and going in to the sanctuary. Across the street is St. James Cathedral at Huron and Wabash but this would be a good time to take lunch. A nice little Italian restaurant is across the street and has wonderful Italian Ices. At Saint James, which dates to 1857, the limestone is very similar to that at Holy Name and there is a lovely basement Chapel all carved from limestone. In the main entrance is a Civil War Memorial and plaque honoring visiting President Lincoln. On the way back along Huron it is fun to stop at the big Apple store on Michigan Avenue and see all the electronic marvels and ask questions or see a demonstration. We like to arrive by 10 a.m. and leave by 2:30 so to miss the rush hour. Cost for parking is $36 for the day per car, which we split between the tourists and then we add the cost of gas, which is about $5 per person. So we think $25 per person is reasonable and lets the society make a few dollars. |
