HotelsChicagoIll.com

downtown chicago hotel

A Ukrainian Village in Chicago

Ukrainian Village in Chicago was established after the great Chicago fire, and is located in the west side of Chicago downtown. Known as a safe middle class neighborhood mostly populated elderly citizens of mainly East European ethnicity. During the aftermath of the 1871 Chicago fire German immigrants in Chicago developed the town, however after the wave of immigrants of Ukrainian and Russian  origin from 1880 to 1910, Ukrainians greatly out numbered other ethnicities and nationalities by a fair margin.

The locality is unique because of its smattering of historical houses and family owned businesses. Being a close knit community neighbors often interact with one another on a regular basis by visiting the nearby coffee shop, chatting in their backyards or taking a stroll down tree lined walkways. The European style Orthodox Churches form the foundation of this community that is fiercely god fearing. Notable local landmarks include Ss.Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Roberto Clemente High School, St Mary’s Hospital, and Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, the latter having been commissioned by St. John Kochurov and designed by famed architect Louis Sullivan.

Another feature the neighborhood’s architecture is its collection of well preserved worker cottages, two or three storey flats, large apartment buildings, single family residences each building telling the tale immigrants from Germany, Poland and of course Ukraine that came to Chicago in search of greener pastures.

The enclave was declared a Chicago landmark in the year 2002 in recognition of its unique architectural and ethnic characteristics. Guided tours of the area let tourists take in the history of this unique community by exploring three of the most beautiful Ukrainian churches, learning about the Ukrainian culture by experiencing some of their authentic restaurants and bakeries.

The modern face of Ukrainian Village is much broader, it is home to some of Chicago’s trendiest hangouts including some dance clubs that could be termed as being the epitome of cool. Touring bands from all over the USA perform at these clubs and draw in large crowds. Each year residents of the village congregate and organize a celebration of their roots and ethnicity. Referred to as the Ukrainian Village Fest it is centered on the area’s distinctive churches and cathedrals. A large number of Chicago residents participate with much gusto in a party that features local (East European) food, a lively beer garden, live music and traditional cultural performances.

A number of Chicago hotels can be found with in the village and are the best way to experience the culture of the area. Hotels in Chicago can range from luxury to home stay and offer different experiences for their guests. Hotels near Downtown Chicago give great access to shopping and party districts.

About the Author

James Cook is an executive working for Hotelseye, which is a popular online reservation portal with a wide collection of Chicago hotels and also this portal also it provides services links to Chicago travel such as car rentals and flight reservations. For more info please visit http://www.chicagohotelseye.com

Tweet This Post