Tours

 

Join Biketropolis on a full, immersive cycling tour and learn about and explore the life of steelworkers of the past around the Southeast Chicago area, with audio narratives provided by historian and author Rod Sellers, preservationist Paul Myers, and local South Chicago artist Roman Villarreal. First, ride south to Steelworkers Park to explore the Ore Wall archeological ruins of the U.S. Steel South Works and artifacts of the Acme Coke Plant. Then head over the Ewing Avenue bridge and pass by the smallest cemetery in Chicago housing the tomb of Andreas von Zirngibl, who helped defeat Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo and lost an arm for the cause. Pedal over to Calumet Park and visit the James P. Fitzgibbons Historical Museum, which is chock-full of photos, memorabilia and antiques curated by the late Mr. Fitzgibbons, who was a steelworker from 1929 through the 60s and a founding member of the Southeast Chicago Historical Society. The next stop is the Illinois-Indiana state line obelisk, one of the oldest monuments in Chicago, located near the entrance of the preserved facade of the State Line power plant. On the next leg of the tour, you'll bike through Wolf Lake Memorial Park and witness the contrasting landscapes of industrialism and nature, then head down to the Marktown Historic District—once a master-planned steelworkers' factory town established in 1917. On the return trip, visit the Republic Steel Sculpture and Memorial Day Massacre site and the commemorative plaque honoring those who lost their lives during the struggle for steelworkers' rights. Throughout this tour, you'll find sculptures and monuments, along with several industrial bridges that were and still are instrumental arteries.

Distance: Approximately 40 miles round trip
What to Bring: reliable bike, lock, hydration, snacks, camera, cash for food, spare inner tube/patch kit, and binoculars (if you own a pair).
Date: Saturday, April 4th, 2020
Time: 8:30 am to 5:00pm
Cost: $35 (Includes donation to the James P. Fitzgibbons Memorial Museum)
Registration Link: Coming Soon
Departure Location: The Spoke & Bird - South Loop - 205 E 18th St.
Lunch: Comfort Roast Coffee House and Cafe - 1423 119th St, Whiting, IN 46394
Distance: Approximately 40 Miles Round trip
Average Speed: 10-12 MPH with rest stops planned along the way.
Skill level: Moderate ride / No drop
Gear: bike, lock, helmet, hydration, snacks and a camera

Points of Interests include…

The Spoke & Bird - South Loop - 205 E 18th St. (Start Location)

South Shore Cultural Center

Steel Garden Sculpture - Richard Hunt

Steelworkers Park

U.S. Steel South Works Plant Ore Walls

A Tribute to the Past Monument - Roman Villarreal

ACME Coke Plant Artifacts (1905)

The South Works Deep Geological Study - Stella Brown

Ewing Bridge (1914)

Grave of Andreas Von Zirngibl (1797-1855)

95th Street Bridge (1958)

Calumet River Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge (1912)

PRR & NYC Lift Bridges over Calumet River

East Chicago Steel Mills

Southeast Chicago Historical Museum/James P. Fitzgibbons Historical Museum

Illinois-Indiana State Line Boundary Marker Obelisk (1838)

State Line Generating Plant Facade (1929)

Wolf Lake Memorial Park

Marktown Historic District (1917 - Present)
Architect Howard Van Doren Shaw

Republic Steel Monument/Memorial Day Massacre Monument

South Shore Cultural Center

The Spoke & Bird (End Location)