University 101, Pilsen Presentation

1. Pilsen: Lower West Side, Chicago

2. How to get to Pilsen
Path from Loyola:
Take the Red line to Lake
Transfer to the Pink line, take the pink line to18th

3. Brief History
• Pilsen is a neighborhood made up of the residential sections of the Lower West
Side of Chicago. In the late 19th century, Pilsen was inhabited by peoples from
Eastern Europe most prominently those from the Austro-Hungarian Empire
• Like many early 20th century American urban neighborhoods, Pilsen was home to
the wealthy as well as the working class
• In the early 70’s Pilsen became increasingly Mexican as people were forced to
move when their former small enclave to the North of Pilsen was torn down to
make room for the University of Illinois at Chicago
• Pilsen’s rich Neo-Bohemian Baroque architectural heritage as well as its proximity
to the Loop continue to strengthen its position as a neighborhood set for revival
as reinvestment in Chicago’s inner-city neighborhoods continue to strengthen.

4. Demographics/Economics
Median Income - $20,571
Demographics - 92.2% Hispanic, 5.7% Caucasian, 2.1% African American
Commonest spoken languages: Spanish and English

5. What did we see/Attractions:
1. National Museum of Mexican Art -Showcasing the beauty and richness of Mexican art, this museum
continues to amplify itself by hosting events and providing new exhibitions for the community and
for visitors. Today, the museum has been identified as one of the most prominent first-voice
institutions for Mexican art and culture in the United States
2. Nuevo Leon- This restaurant is the heart of Pilsen. They serve authentic Mexican food and offer
home-style service that has made it a favorite for locals

6. Attractions cont.
Pilsen is very well know for their Hispanic inspired art

7. Group Reflection
Traveling to Pilsen in a group really enhanced the experience for all of the
members. It enabled us to be in a comfortable environment with each other
while exploring a new environment. The aspect we, as a group, most enjoyed
about Pilsen was the high involvement of art and creative expressions in the
visual environment. The buildings all reflected this in the colorful murals and
paintings. Since many of the group members did not come from neighborhoods
with strong Hispanic influence, as found in Pilsen, it was an eye-opening
experience to see street signs written in Spanish and shops catering to a different
cultural taste. Overall, we very much enjoyed the trip because it offered a chance
to visit a relatively under-appreciated part of Chicago.

8. Citations
History of Pilsen and Little Village." — San Jose Obrero Mission. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
"Lower West Side (Pilsen) Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois (IL), 60608, 60616 Detailed
Profile." Lower West Side (Pilsen) Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois (IL), 60608, 60616
Subdivision Profile. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
"Pilsen, Chicago." Pilsen. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
"Pilsen." Chicago Real Estate. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.