‘Forgotten Chicago’ Uncovers History Worth Remembering


For nearly a decade, the website Forgotten Chicago has documented the city’s storied past through vivid historical photos, in-depth feature articles and even scheduled tours of overlooked Chicago sites.

The stories transport older residents to a bygone era of extravagant shoreline motels and telephone numbers that started with letters, not numbers.

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For younger Chicagoans, the website opens a door to what seems like an entirely different city, where residents without indoor plumbing washed themselves in bath houses named after politicians.

Located in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood, the Patio Theater was originally opened in 1927 and subsequently closed in 2001 due to a faulty air conditioning system. The movie theater reopened in May 2016 under new ownership. (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)Located in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood, the Patio Theater was originally opened in 1927 and subsequently closed in 2001 due to a faulty air conditioning system. The movie theater reopened in May 2016 under new ownership. (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

Forgotten Chicago’s mission to “discover and document little known elements of Chicago’s infrastructure, architecture, neighborhoods and general cityscape” resonates with its more than 75,000 Facebook followers, who are encouraged to submit content of their own.

The website’s co-founder and editor, Jacob Kaplan, joins host Phil Ponce on Thursday to share some interesting Chicago history.

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

  • (Courtesy of Illinois Historic Preservation Association)

    (Courtesy of Illinois Historic Preservation Association)

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

  • (Courtesy of Realty & Building)

    (Courtesy of Realty & Building)

  • (Courtesy of Chuckman Collection)

    (Courtesy of Chuckman Collection)

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

  • (Courtesy of Illinois Historic Preservation Agency)

    (Courtesy of Illinois Historic Preservation Agency)

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

  • (Google Earth)

    (Google Earth)

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

  • (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

    (Courtesy of Forgotten Chicago)

Follow Evan Garcia on Twitter: @EvanRGarcia


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