“The Ridge Historic District, known for its many historic homes, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with 61 new banners commemorating its place in history, as well as some festivities.
“The District, in Chicago’s Beverly and Morgan Park communities, is considered one of the largest properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It runs from 87th Street to 115th Street and was designated a historic district May 28, 1976.
“Architectural styles on display in the Ridge Historic District buildings include Italianate, Gothic, Queen Anne, Prairie School and Renaissance Revival. It also includes three Chicago Landmark Districts: the Longwood Drive Historic District, the Beverly/Morgan Park Railroad Station Historic District and the Walter Burley Griffin Place Historic District.
“The Ridge Historic District commemorative banners recently were unveiled at 10616 S. Longwood Drive, where officials read an updated resolution recognizing the area for its historical and architectural significance.
“Tim Blackburn, historian at Ridge Historical Society, said the district is composed of more than 3,000 buildings and features a collection of architectural styles mainly built between 1870 and 1930.
“The banners unveiled at the commemoration state the community is an “outdoor museum of architecture.” They display renderings of the Givins Irish Castle and homes built by Frank Lloyd Wright and Walter Burley Griffin and resulted from a collaboration between Blackburn and Beverly Area Planning Association marketing director Mairead Shoenfeld.
“Beverly Area Planning Association executive director Herb Lentz, who has lived in Beverly for more than a decade and has family roots there, said his favorite part of the neighborhood was the people and their relationship to their homes.
“‘There is a strong sense of connectedness and belonging,’ said Lentz. ‘And the architecture of the homes in the area plays a role in that.
“‘I love living in an area and in a neighborhood that has held onto its sense of character and history. There’s a feeling of pride in how people care for their homes and their streets that you can feel immediately. The types of homes in the neighborhood provide such a rich mosaic with something to see at every turn on every block.’ (Neumann, Daily Southtown, 5/1/26)