1963 Map of Berwyn

About this map

The Des Plaines River and the parallel industrial corridors of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois and Michigan Canal form the backbone of this mid-century suburban landscape. This era captures a densely built environment where residential neighborhoods in Berwyn, Cicero, and Maywood transition into the heavy industrial and transport zones of the Summit and McCook areas. The map reveals an incredible concentration of institutional sites, from the expansive VA Hospital at Hines to the numerous large-scale burial grounds like Waldheim Cemetery and Resurrection Cemetery. Transport infrastructure is prominent, featuring the Belt Railway Of Chicago and the Midway Airport at the eastern edge. Local life is documented through an extensive network of parish schools such as St Rene Sch and St Marys Sch, alongside massive quarries and the iconic Brookfield Zoo.