1928 Map of Highland Park

About this map

Fort Sheridan stands as a prominent military installation on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, anchoring a landscape defined by North Shore suburbanization and elite recreational development. This late 1920s survey captures the intense concentration of private estates and country clubs, such as the Onwentsia Club and Exmoor Country Club, which replaced the earlier agricultural character of Shields and Deerfield townships. The transportation backbone is clearly visible, with the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad and the Chicago and Northwestern Railway running parallel to the coast, facilitating the growth of the City of Highland Park and Lake Forest. Beyond the residential corridors, the map reveals the industrial legacy of the area at the Brickyard near the North Branch Chicago River, and the cultural significance of Ravinia Park, already a destination for music and the arts.