A guide to attractions in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood (2024)

A guide to attractions in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood (1)

Home to many staples of community art in the city, the soul of Chicago thrives in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood

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Written by Grace Perry

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Lincoln Square and Ravenswood carry a certain credibility among the Chicago neighborhoods. They’re busy and bustling, but not in-your-face trendy; they’re understated and laid back, yet brimming with distinctly Chicago attractions. Home to some of Chicago’s best craft beers, fantastic parksand an endless stream ofstreet festivals, Lincoln Square and Ravenswood offer tons of things to do for kids and grown-ups alike.

RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide toLincoln Square and Ravenswood

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Things to do in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood

Giddings Plaza
  • Things to do
  • Lincoln Square
Photograph: CC/Flickr/Andrew Seaman

Giddings Plaza is the cultural center of Lincoln Square. Home to restaurants, shops, a summer concert series, countless street fairs and more, the brick-paved pedestrian walkway embodies the heart and soul of the neighborhood. Giddings Plaza (also known as Kempf Plaza, a nod to the neighborhood’s German roots) is buzzing with laid-back events in the warmer months, but is a particularly charming stroll around the holidays.

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
  • Museums
  • History
  • Lincoln Square

The traditionally German enclave of Lincoln Square keeps its history alive at the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center. DANK Haus offers everything from German lessons to rotating displays that cover German and German-American history, plus the work of contemporary artists with German or European ties.

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Welles Park
  • Attractions
  • Parks and gardens
  • Lincoln Square
Photo: Grace Wiley

Right in the heart of Lincoln Square, Welles Park hosts all kinds of youth sports, concerts and storytelling events. Welles boasts an indoor pool, a fully-lit wrought-iron gazebo and therapeutic recreation programs for disabled children and adults. The park, founded in 1910, was named for Gideon Welles, a member of President Lincoln’s cabinet.

Lillstreet Art Center
  • Art
  • Arts centers
  • Uptown
  • price 2 of 4

Photograph: Joe Tighe

Lillstreet may be family-friendly, but that doesn’t mean it’s family-only. The Ravenswood arts center offers classes in everything from painting to pottery to jewelry to zine making. If you want to learn a new craft, hone your artistic talents, or just blow off some steam, sign up for a class at Lillstreet. You just might surprise yourself.

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Old Town School of Folk Music
  • Things to do
  • Cultural centers
  • Lincoln Square
  • price 3 of 4

Photograph: Ian Spula

One of the pioneers in the Lincoln Square neighborhood, the Old Town School has since expanded to several buildings on this stretch of Lincoln Avenue and opened other locations throughout the city. It remains the best place in town to expand your talents by learning how to play guitar, Irish stepdance, draw comics and more. Its early-childhood music class, Wiggleworms, is a rite of passage for growing up in Chicago. Plus, its music stores stock musical instruments, accesories and more.

Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum
  • Things to do
  • Literary events
  • Edgewater
Photograph: CC/Flickr/M. Sauter

This massive, Victorian-era cemetery on the north end of Ravenswood hosts resting places for every war in American history, including the Revolutionary War. The cemetery was founded in 1859 and, according to lore, was supposed to be called “Roe’s Hill” and its current name was a clerical error. Even if cemeteries give you the heebie-jeepies, Rosehill offers 350 acres of tranquil green space in the otherwise bustling neighborhood.

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Davis Theater
  • Movie theaters
  • Independent
  • Lincoln Square
  • price 1 of 4

Andrew Seaman

For years, the Davis Theater has been one of those gritty, old school Chicago institutions we have a collective soft spot for. But the Davis is getting its groove back. At nearly 100 years old, the Davis was in need of a little facelift (like many 100 year-olds): The theater will soon re-open with the addition of a full-service bar and restaurant.

Winnemac Park
  • Things to do
  • Playgrounds
  • Lincoln Square

A Lincoln Square favorite, Winnemac Park has provided Chicago with nearly 40 acres of green space since 1910. The Chicago Park District park is home to dozens of youth sports leagues and programs.

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    A guide to attractions in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood (2024)

    FAQs

    Why is Lincoln Square called Lincoln Square? ›

    In 1925, to honor Abraham Lincoln, the Chicago City Council named the area Lincoln Square, and a prominent statue of the namesake was erected in 1956. About 44,000 people live in the neighborhood along with over 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses.

    What are the boundaries of Lincoln Square? ›

    It is bordered by Columbus Circle to the south, West 72nd Street to the north, Central Park West to the east, and the Hudson River to the west.

    What are the boundaries of Ravenswood neighborhood? ›

    Location. The neighborhood of Ravenswood forms the eastern-most boundary of the Lincoln Square community, and is a rather compact area defined by Clark Street to its east, Montrose Avenue to the south, Foster Avenue to its north, and the Chicago River to its west.

    What is a fun fact about Lincoln Square? ›

    Lincoln Square is the location of the last work of famous Chicago School architect Louis Sullivan, known for designing the Carson Pirie Scott building and the Auditorium Theatre.

    Is there a German neighborhood in Chicago? ›

    exploring Chicago's German neighborhood 🎒🇩🇪 Lincoln Square was founded by German immigrants in the 1840s.

    What is Ravenswood, Chicago known for? ›

    From Industrial Corridor to Creative Hub: Manufacturing, Arts, and New Industry. From the 1890s to 1920s, Ravenswood experienced rapid infrastructural development and growth. Along the North Western Railway Tracks on Ravenswood Ave, massive industrial manufacturing corridor flourished.

    What does the name Ravenswood mean? ›

    Forest/Trees with Ravens.

    Is Ravenswood a good place to live? ›

    A family neighborhood with historic charm

    Ravenswood is a historic gem just 10 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. This neighborhood is family-friendly with extensive public transportation and easy access to major highways. People walk the neighborhood and also bike from place to place.

    Why is the Lincoln Room called that? ›

    President Abraham Lincoln's office and Cabinet Room––the large southeast room on the Second Floor of the White House––has been called the Lincoln Bedroom since 1945, when President Harry S. Truman directed that Lincoln-era furnishings be assembled there.

    Why is it called Lincoln Park Chicago? ›

    In the 1860s, the city set aside 60 acres as Lake Park. It was renamed Lincoln Park in 1865 after Lincoln's assassination. Up to that point, the land was being used as a city cemetery. People who died from cholera and Confederate prisoners from Camp Douglas were among the hundreds buried there.

    Why is Lincoln City named after Abraham Lincoln? ›

    Lincoln City is a town in Lincoln County on the Oregon Coast of the United States, between Tillamook to the north and Newport to the south. It is named after the county, which was named in honor of former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. The population was 9,815 at the 2020 Census.

    Why is Lincoln Center called Lincoln Center? ›

    It is unclear whether the center was named as a tribute to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln or for its location in the Lincoln Square Neighborhood. The name was bestowed on the area in 1906 by the New York City Board of Aldermen, but records give no reason for choosing that name.

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