Motor Row District
Motor Row District
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The area
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Neighbourhood: South Loop
This downtown neighborhood offers a variety of activities ranging from cultural to sporting. If you happen to visit during football season, you may bump into a boisterous few fans on their way to a Bears game on the southernmost tip of South Loop. On the flip side, Museum Campus offers cultural and educational experiences in its planetarium, museum and aquarium, all situated along the lakefront. Grant Park is one of Chicago’s premier locations for green space and recreation with views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Take a stroll down memory lane in the historic Prairie District where you can enjoy views of old historic homes. Restaurants, theaters, and clubs are spread throughout the neighborhood along with a collection of burger joints along Michigan Avenue just across from the park.
How to get there
- Cermak–McCormick Place • 4 min walk
- Cermak–Chinatown • 9 min walk
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Best nearby
Restaurants
2,445 within 5 kms
Attractions
935 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
5 reviews
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Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,489 contributions
Aug 2017
How many people realize that Henry Ford actually launched the sales of his new-fangled automobiles in Chicago? In 1905, Ford arrived at Chicago's Central Station by train, just steps from the South Michigan Avenue site that would be his first store outside Detroit. His new plan to sell automobiles from bright showrooms would change Chicago and America--and transform a quiet city neighborhood into the largest and most glamorous concentration of auto dealerships in the country. The historic Motor Row District on Chicago's Near South Side was built between 1905 and 1936 and includes buildings on South Michigan Avenue between 22nd and 25th Street, directly west of McCormick Place convention center, and 1444, 1454, 1737, 1925 and 2000 South Michigan Avenue as well as 2246 to 3453 South Indiana Avenue and 2211 to 2247 South Wabash Avenue. At its peak, as many as 116 different makes of automobiles were being sold on Motor Row. Some are familiar today, including Ford, Buick, Fiat and Cadillac while others are better known to historians and old car buffs, including Hudson, Studebaker, Marmon, Stutz, Packard, Peerless, Pierce-Arrow and Locomobile. Currently, only one car dealership (Fiat/Alfa Romeo) still stands on Motor Row while the remaining buildings have been or are being redeveloped into condominiums, nightclubs, restaurants, bars and retail storefronts. The district was declared a Chicago Landmark in 2000 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Motor Row also was home to the Chicago Defender, the newspaper voice of Chicago's large African American community, and Chess Records, where such musical legends as Muddy Waters, the Rolling Stones and Willie Dixon once recorded their songs. Motor Row began to decline during the Great Depression as auto dealers began to move to other city and suburban locations. Finally, World War II stopped civilian car production, ending Motor Row's long prominence. But Henry Ford's old showroom, an investment he made with only $243 in his bank account, still stands at 1444 South Michigan Avenue.
Written August 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim N
Knoxville, TN149 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
We attended a wedding at Revel Motor Row in Chicago. I was blown away by the venue as well as how much the area has changed in the last two years. Definitely up and coming on several fronts. Way to go Chicago!
Written September 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sleepster
Chicago, IL334 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
Some of the best blues and blues based rock and roll was recorded at the old Chess Records Studio near 22nd and Michigan. Wander south on a Thursday night and catch the son of the famous Willie Dixon, Freddie Dixon, perform real Chicago Blues with the Original Chicago Blues All Stars at Motor Row Brewing. The free admission to the 3rd floor venue at 2337 South Michigan is a night out that should not be missed and will be long remembered when in this town.
Written November 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BruleLaker
Chicago, IL152 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
Taylor B has given a very detailed report on what to see during this tour and, having taken it today, it is certainly worth taking . . . especially if you are a car buff. Our docent Chuck covered details on as many buildings as allowable during the 1.5 hour tour. He also showed photos of some of these extinct models, including Marmon, Hudson and Locomotion. It's a bit off the beaten path but fairly unique among offerings, having been on several of the tours, both downtown and in the neighborhoods.
Written June 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,489 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers tours of many historical venues in the city. But you've probably never heard of this one--the Motor Row tour. It is near the popular Prairie Avenue Historic District, once home to many of Chicago's elite citizens. The Motor Row District is located in Chicago's near South Side community. It once was home to 116 automobile dealerships, from Ford and Cadillac to Hudson and Pierce-Arrow. Designated as a historic district in 2000 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, it now features 50 stunning buildings designed and built by the likes of Albert Kahn, Philip Maher, Holabird & Roche and other notable architects from 1905 to 1936. The district includes building stretching from 2200 to 2500 on South Michigan Avenue directly west of the McCormick Place convention center and at 1444, 1454, 1737, 1925 and 2000 on South Michigan as well as 2246 to 3453 on South Indiana and 2211 to 2247 on South Wabash. Currently, only one dealership (Ford) remains in the district while other buildings have been or are being developed into condominiums, nightclubs and retail stores. The range of buildings in Motor Row illustrates the evolution of the automobile showroom and related product and service buildings from simple two-story structures used for display and offices to multi-story buildings used for housing a variety of departments, including repair, storage, painting and finishing. Motor Row also is home to the Chicago Defender, the distinguished black-oriented newspaper. Chess Records, which once recorded the sounds of blues singer Muddy Waters, also was located in Motor Row. The Rolling Stones, Willie Dixon and many other blues artists also recorded there. Currently, Fearless Radio is located in Motor Row on the 24th block of South Michigan. There are plans to transform Motor Row into a premiere music and entertainment area. A museum and a brewery also have been proposed to be included in the project.
Written December 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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