Picture this: mid-1800s Chicago, muddy streets, a boomtown bursting at the seams with newcomers. Back then, Old St. Patrick’s Church opened its doors on Easter Sunday 1846-making it the oldest church still standing in the city. Somehow, this sturdy structure survived the Great Chicago Fire, which is no small feat considering most of the city went up in flames like a kindling pile. Look closely at the brickwork-those aren’t local bricks, but fancy yellow Cream City bricks shipped in from Milwaukee.
See the two octagonal spires on top? They nod to both the Eastern and Western Church traditions, trying to keep everyone happy under one roof-never an easy task. Inside, Celtic designs swirl along the walls, inspired by the illuminated Book of Kells. Irish families flooded these pews in the early days, and today Old St. Pat’s is affectionately known as the “cornerstone of Irish culture” in Chicago. The block party here claims to be the world’s largest-think more Guinness, less lemonade stand.
Alright, when you are ready for a change of pace, head south for about three minutes-Warehouse (nightclub) is just down the street.
