jbw wrote:At the other extreme, I sometimes take visitors (the less knowledgeable, the better) to what I assure them is the site of what can arguably be considered to be the most important event in all of human history. They usually think I'm being ironic, but when I respond in the affirmative to a question like, "As important as Golgotha, I suppose?" they know I'm being serious and usually revert to high pensive mode as they try to extract the solution from me to our eventual destination . . .
. . . which is, if course, the spot on the 5600 block of South Ellis where the wonderful Henry Moore statue commemorates the first self-sustaining, controlled nuclear reaction.
Surprisingly enough, they usually agree with my assessment, too.
Mike G wrote:I've done that too (the Henry Moore sculpture). Actually I would argue for the two most important neglected Chicagoans (defined as people who did something important here) being Fermi (who is at least vaguely acknowledged) and Leo Szilard, who was the real impetus behind the entire atomic age (he conceived of the chain reaction, albeit in London rather than here, and spent the 30s getting other people like Fermi and Einstein behind the idea of atomic fission). We have statues of everyone from Michael Jordan and Harry Caray to Emmanuel Swedenborg, Alexander Hamilton and enough Lincolns to start a baseball team, but for Fermi and Szilard, all one can say is what they said about Christopher Wren, the architect of London-- "if you seek his monument, look around you."
The Hawthorn Works is another very good one, a massive, once major industrial facility now largely forgotten, especially worth noting if you know its place in the history of employee management. (Short version of the most important experiment conducted there: Elton Mayo experimented with different amounts of lighting to see if employees worked better in bright light, natural light, light that varied through the day, whatever. What he discovered, inadvertently, was that none of it made much difference-- but what made a huge difference in productivity was if the employees had control of the light switches, rather than them being operated by management.) Admittedly part of the reason it's ignored is because a lot of it has been torn down, but a building or two and a tower remain.
stevez wrote:Mike G wrote:I've done that too (the Henry Moore sculpture). Actually I would argue for the two most important neglected Chicagoans (defined as people who did something important here) being Fermi (who is at least vaguely acknowledged) and Leo Szilard, who was the real impetus behind the entire atomic age (he conceived of the chain reaction, albeit in London rather than here, and spent the 30s getting other people like Fermi and Einstein behind the idea of atomic fission). We have statues of everyone from Michael Jordan and Harry Caray to Emmanuel Swedenborg, Alexander Hamilton and enough Lincolns to start a baseball team, but for Fermi and Szilard, all one can say is what they said about Christopher Wren, the architect of London-- "if you seek his monument, look around you."
The Hawthorn Works is another very good one, a massive, once major industrial facility now largely forgotten, especially worth noting if you know its place in the history of employee management. (Short version of the most important experiment conducted there: Elton Mayo experimented with different amounts of lighting to see if employees worked better in bright light, natural light, light that varied through the day, whatever. What he discovered, inadvertently, was that none of it made much difference-- but what made a huge difference in productivity was if the employees had control of the light switches, rather than them being operated by management.) Admittedly part of the reason it's ignored is because a lot of it has been torn down, but a building or two and a tower remain.
And let us not forget Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of the Cathode Ray Tube, although I am not aware of any sculpture in his honor.
Vital Information wrote:But the Motorola plant on the west side and various Zenith factories remain as emblems. (And SethZ claims their is a certain artfulness in old factories.)
Vital Information wrote:So, Elwood, far from being the philistine, was actually MORE knowlagable.
Bob S. wrote:One secret tourist attraction that's mystified me since I spotted it is a small park visible from the Brown Line, just before entering Sedgwick station (on a southbound trip; just after on a northbound).
Aaron Deacon wrote:Bob S. wrote:One secret tourist attraction that's mystified me since I spotted it is a small park visible from the Brown Line, just before entering Sedgwick station (on a southbound trip; just after on a northbound).
Is this the park you speak of?
Vital Information wrote:I'm pretty sure it was once the Oscar Meyer factory. That factory went down about 10 years ago, and townhomes were built.
Bob S. wrote:Vital Information wrote:I'm pretty sure it was once the Oscar Meyer factory. That factory went down about 10 years ago, and townhomes were built.
Huh. It seems too small a plot to have had a factory, but if it's true, it's yet another neat bit of Chicago food-related trivia that's popped up here.
Mike G wrote:If you want real secret things in this city, though, look into abandoned ballrooms. A lot of the big pre-WWII residential buildings along the lake, especially (but not only) the ones that used to be hotels, have ornate ballrooms which haven't been used in 50 years. A couple of them are now parking garages-- years ago the Tribune Sunday magazine ran some great photos of cars parked under stunning lapis-lazuli arched ceilings-- while others just sit as empty, ignored floors in otherwise busy buildings.
Mike G wrote:Volo, Illinois. A tiny smudge on the map way up north of Chicago that exists mainly for its one attraction: an antique car museum.
From the auctioneer's website wrote:Nestled in central Illinois in the Heart of Amish Country is a beautiful 29 acre park, known as Rockome Gardens. For nearly half a century, Rockome Gardens unique stonework & sprawling gardens have attracted vacationing families from all over the world. Purchased in 1958 by Elvan Yoder, the park has been a family operation with Elvan's son's, Dale & Allen carrying on the tradition of the park. By combining a touch of whimsy with serious craftsmanship & setting the result amid the natural beauty of the Midwest, Elvan & his son's have created a memorable destination.
Visitors will see an amazing array of wonderful craftsmanship in the hand crafted fences, archways, large hearts, birdhouses & a variety of other designs made of native rock & cement, as well as some other odds & ends. These wonderful items are set among oceans of beautiful floral gardens. Visitors will find more than 5 acres of formal flower gardens, herb gardens, & cacti gardens as well as the water gardens at the south end of the park.
Guests to Rockome Gardens can experience that simpler life firsthand by visiting a true Amish home of the 1950's, with sparse furnishings & a focus on living for the Lord rather than for worldy things. Paths are provided throughout the park, perfect for a leisurely stroll, & children can spend a day riding a horse that provides power for the saw, petting animals in the petting zoo, playing in the tree house, creeping through the haunted cave, or watching the G-gauge model train as it winds through the hills, flowers, & buildings. If your feet get tired, just hop on a horse & buggy for a ride through the park or climb aboard the train for a ride.
While at the gardens, take a stroll back in time to the late 1800's village with a working blacksmith shop, livery stables, one room school house, & a wonderful Calico & Quilt shop.
A large wonderful old red barn holds much to see with it's Antique Museum, Look-Out Tower, & Rock Shop.
There are a variety of specialty shops that offer an array of products, like beautiful hand crafted dolls at the Sugar & Spice Doll Shop, unique southwest-style gifts at the Indian Trading Post, delicious baked goods & confections from the Bagdad Bakery & Candy Haus Shop, cornmeal, cheeses, & summer sausage from the Grist Mill, which has an operating mill, & much more! These specialty shops are the link between Rockome Gardens & the Amish neighbors, whose farms border the park.
Rockome Gardens is a combination of the best of nature's beauty & the best of man's handiwork.
The Yoder's have owned & operated the park as a family business with their father & mother since 1958. They say the park has been good to them, but it is time to retire! If you are looking for a wonderful investment, be sure to check this one out!