North Center, Chicago Community Area #5 sits 5 miles northwest of the Loop. Uncultivated and untamed until the end of the 19th century, North Center is now a vibrant and successful near-north side community prized for its historic homes and friendly neighborhood streets. The roots of the community’s early days in Chicago were rooted in brickyards and light industry. Many of the residents were laborers that worked in the factories and clay pits on the banks of the North Branch of the Chicago River. Over the years, the area was transformed by the depression, the War, the postwar years and the forces of city dynamics. It is today home to several neighborhoods, the namesake North Center, Roscoe Village and St. Bens, each brimming with interesting architecture and character.

Join us for a relaxed 4 to 5 hour bicycle tour exploring the history and architecture of North Center. Tours are $10 each, or half off if you attend the free pre-ride, and free if you also volunteer to ride marshal on the tour.