Lyons (Images of America) - Softcover

Athitakis, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0738540404 ISBN 13: 9780738540405

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC), 2006

Synopsis

Despite its modest size, the village of Lyons has played a key role in the growth of nearby Chicago. In 1673, French explorers Fr. Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet learned of a Native American portage route connecting the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, and that path helped make Lyons an important stop for fur traders and other businessmen throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1834, the town boasted just a saw mill, three houses, and a tavern, but by the 1830s and 1840s, with the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, Lyons became a boomtown that attracted waves of immigrants from Poland and Germany. Its numerous taverns and outdoor picnics--known as skillies--attracted visitors from throughout the
area, who also came to sites like the Cream City Amusement Park and the Hofmann Tower, now a national historic landmark. Lyons, featuring many archival photographs never previously published, explores the town's rich history from its early exploration to the present day.

About this title

About the Author

Mark Athitakis, a Lyons native, is an assistant editor at the Chicago Reader. His work has appeared in numerous national publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Business 2.0.

Edition details

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0738540404
• ISBN 13: 9780738540405
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128