Pilsen Historic District

The Pilsen Historic District is a special neighborhood in Chicago's Lower West Side. It is one of the few places in the city where buildings survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This fire was very big and changed how Chicago looked. Because of this, Pilsen is very important for learning about Chicago's past. The buildings there show us what Chicago looked like before the fire.

History

Pilsen was founded in 1878 and became an important part of Chicago's history. In the late 1800s, it was mostly home to Czech immigrants, who named it after a city called Plzeň in the Czech Republic. Other groups, like people from Austria-Hungary, Poland, and Lithuania, also lived there. By 1934, many working-class families called Pilsen home.

In the 1940s, more Mexican workers began moving to Pilsen. By the 1960s, many Mexican families settled there after factories nearby closed. Over time, Pilsen became a main home for Mexican immigrants, and by 1970, most people there were Latino. Today, Pilsen still remembers its rich history and culture.

In 2006, Pilsen was added to the National Register of Historic Places, showing its importance to Chicago.