403 W North Ave

Thriving Nightlife Paired with Eclectic Shops and Restaurants in Chicago’s Old Town

The area referred to as Old Town was home to many Native American Nations including members of the Illinois, Miami and Potawatomi. After the 1833 Treaty of Chicago most indigenous peoples were forcibly removed. The land was then settled by German Catholic immigrants. Although there is no legal entity called Old Town, the people who live there regard the northern border as North Avenue and the neighborhood continues south to Division Street. The East edge is LaSalle Street and heads west to Halsted. Old Town has many historic buildings, including St. Michael’s Church, one of only seven buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire. In 1924 Henry Gerber established the first gay-rights group, the Society for Human Rights, and his home has since been designated as both a Chicago Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. The 1950s saw an influx of Puerto Ricans that emigrated to Chicago. In the 60s and 70s Old Town became a center for folk musicians. The Old Town School of Folk Music was located on North Avenue until its move to Armitage Street in 1968.