Wicker Park District

Address: Bounded by Bell, Caton, Leavitt, Potomac and the elevated tracks on the East Year Built: 1870 - 1930 Architect: Various Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: April 12, 1991

This area is named for the triangular-shaped public park that developer-politician Charles Wicker, and his brother Joel, donated to the city in 1870. The large residences that line the park and nearby streets reflect the wide variety of styles and materials characteristic of Chicago between the Fire of 1871 and the early-20th century.

Pierce and Hoyne streets feature some of the city's largest and best examples of Victorian-era architecture and, due to the large number of brewery owners who built residences on Hoyne, that street became known as "Beer Baron Row." Early inhabitants were largely German and Scandinavian in origin, although a later influx of Polish immigrants led to the area being called the "Polish Gold Coast."