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Union Stockyards Gate: A Symbol of Chicago's Past

Visit the Union Stockyards Gate, a historic landmark that symbolizes Chicago's past as a meatpacking center, featuring impressive architecture and a firefighters' memorial.

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The Union Stockyards Gate, built around 1875, stands as a reminder of Chicago's dominance in the meatpacking industry. Designed by Burnham and Root, the limestone gate marked the entrance to the Union Stock Yards, once the largest livestock market in the world.

A brief summary to Union Stockyards Gate

  • W Exchange Ave &, S Peoria St, Chicago, New City, IL, 60609, US
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Local tips

  • Visit early in the morning for a quieter experience and better photo opportunities.
  • Take a stroll around the neighborhood to discover local shops and eateries that pay homage to the legacy of the stockyards.
  • Check out the Firefighter's Memorial, located directly behind the gate, which is dedicated to firemen who died in the line of duty.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    To reach the Union Stock Yard Gate via public transportation, start at Union Station and transfer to the CTA Pink Line at Polk station. Ride the Pink Line to the Damen station. From there, walk south on S Damen Ave, then turn right onto W Exchange Ave. Continue until you reach the Union Stockyards Gate at the intersection with S Peoria St. A CTA ticket costs $2.50.

  • Walking

    If you are near the Bridgeport neighborhood, the Union Stock Yard Gate is accessible by foot. Head east on W 43rd St toward S Halsted St. Turn right onto S Halsted St, then turn right onto W Exchange Ave. Continue east until you reach the gate at the intersection with S Peoria St.

  • Car

    If driving, navigate to the intersection of W Exchange Ave and S Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60609. Street parking is available. Be mindful of parking restrictions. The area can get busy before or after White Sox games.

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Discover more about Union Stockyards Gate

The Union Stockyards Gate, located at Exchange Avenue and Peoria Street, is a historic landmark that once served as the grand entrance to Chicago's Union Stock Yards. Established in 1865, the Union Stock Yards were the center of the American meatpacking industry for over a century, earning Chicago the nickname "hog butcher to the world". The yards spanned 475 acres and processed more meat than any other place in the world. The gate, designed by Burnham and Root around 1875 and constructed in 1879, is made of limestone and features a large central arch flanked by two smaller arches. Above the central arch is a sculpture of "Sherman," a prize-winning bull named after John B. Sherman, one of the founders of the Union Stock Yard and Transit Company. The gate is one of the few remaining structures from the original stockyards, which closed in 1971. Today, the Union Stockyards Gate stands as a symbol of Chicago's past and a reminder of the city's industrial heritage. It was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1972 and a National Historic Landmark in 1981. Just west of the gate is a memorial statue dedicated to the firefighters who died in the 1910 Chicago Union Stock Yards Fire, the deadliest building collapse in American history until 9/11.

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