Fort Dearborn
sw corner michigan avenue and
wacker drive,
Chicago,
IL
60601
Historic Sites
Built in 1803, Fort Dearborn marked Chicago’s origins as a U.S. military outpost and settlement hub. Though long gone, it’s commemorated by sidewalk markers and a star on Chicago’s flag.
Built in 1803 at the mouth of the Chicago River, Fort Dearborn was the U.S. Army’s westernmost outpost and the first major federal investment in the region. Surrounded by early settlers and traders, it marked the arrival of Europeans in Native American land, sparking periodic conflict. Burned during the War of 1812 and rebuilt in 1816, it was decommissioned in 1840. Today, its location is honored by sidewalk markers and a star on the Chicago flag. Illinois 250
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NASCAR Chicago Street Race
Grant Park • Jul 05 – Jul 06
The pulse-pounding action of NASCAR returns to the streets of Chicago for the third installment of the Chicago Street Race, July 5-6, 2025.
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Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds at the Art Institute of Chicago
Mar 29 – Jul 30
Unveiling Frida Kahlo’s work for the first time in the Art Institute galleries, this exhibition focuses on the celebrated Mexican artist’s first and only trip to…
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Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Jul 12
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Living Memorial
Chicago
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Living Memorial was dedicated on August 5, 2016 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. King’s historic march through Marquette Park.
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