The early history of the automobile in Chicago

Old photos of streetcar scenes and depots (e.g. Dearborn and Wells Street) provide insight into how the horse was replaced by the internal combustion engine on the city streets. These notes save some comments made on a Facebook share that describe the introduction of automobile and bicycle manufacturing in America.

Jose Ilarraza-Boyed posted
Here is Grant Park circa 1892.

Dennis DeBruler shared

• Not only has Lake Park been built with landfill between Michigan Avenue and the IC tracks, but they have planted some trees.
• There are many boxcars on the IC tracks.
• The Interstate Exposition Building has been torn down so that they can build the Art Institute for the Columbian Exposition of 1893.
• A pier exists at the IC Van Buren Street Station for steamboat traffic.
• There are no cars on Michigan Avenue. It will be a couple of more decades before they start to become significant.
• Both grain elevators exist on the south side of the river.
• There is still heavy industry on the north side of the river.
• Fill for Grant Park has not started.

Comments on Dennis' share

Comments on Dennis' share

Comments on Dennis' share

Comments on Dennis' share