Explore Evanston’s History at Your Own Pace
Discover Downtown Evanston’s rich heritage through a self-guided walking tour of landmark sites, cultural destinations, and neighborhood stories. This tour highlights places that have shaped the community, from civic icons and architectural gems to businesses and gathering spaces central to Downtown Evanston’s history.
Whether you are local or visiting, this is a fun way to learn more about the people, moments, and places that built Downtown Evanston.
Ready to Explore?
The streets of Downtown Evanston are your museum. Lace up your walking shoes, grab your phone or tablet, and start uncovering the layers of history woven into every corner of the city — from the oldest church in town, founded by a woman whose sewing machine became its first pulpit, to the lively plaza that has been Downtown Evanston’s gathering place for more than a century.
Start the Downtown Evanston History Tour today and experience the past, right where it happened.
Follow this link for more information about present-day Downtown Evanston.
Downtown Evanston History Tour Partners
Evanston History Center
The Evanston History Center collects, preserves, and shares Evanston history to educate, inspire, and enrich the people of Evanston.
Downtown Evanston
Downtown Evanston is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation that provides marketing, special event, placemaking, and general management services for the downtown Evanston business district. The mission of the organization is to market, maintain, develop, and improve the vitality of the local economy and quality of life within the designated Special Service Area (SSA) boundaries.
Northwestern University
Since 2015, the Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations at Northwestern University has redefined our partnership with the City of Evanston, transforming it into a benchmark for university-city collaborations nationwide.