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1963 Map of Chicago Loop

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Chicago Loop
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Rosehill Cemetery and Graceland Cemetery anchor the north side of the city in this early 1960s survey, illustrating a dense urban landscape defined by its relation to the Lake Michigan shoreline. The map documents the intricate water network of the North Branch Chicago River and the North Branch Canal, which feed into the industrial Turning Basin. This era is marked by the prominence of the Edens Expressway and Kennedy Expressway cutting through established neighborhoods like Logan Square and Avondale.

Educational and religious institutions are particularly well-represented, from Loyola University at the lake's edge to the University of Illinois (Chicago Campus) further south. Cultural and recreational landmarks such as Riverview Park, Humboldt Park, and the iconic Navy Pier are clearly delineated alongside the heavy rail infrastructure of the Chicago and North Western and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads.