West Garfield Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Midwest Athletic Club
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 5, 2025
1. The Midwest Athletic Club Marker
October 18th, 1984
Erected: 1926-1928
Michaelsen & Rognstad, original architects
Restored and Revitalized 1995-1996
Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation, Developer and General Partner
Chicago Equity Fund Limited Partner
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Sports. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.
Location. 41° 52.868′ N, 87° 43.257′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in West Garfield Park. It is on Hamlin Street north of Madison Street. The marker is to the right of the building's Hamlin Street entrance. Other parts of the building have a 3800 W. Madison St. address. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 North Hamlin Street, Chicago IL 60624, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 132nd Infantry Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Garfield Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Garfield Park Natural Area (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Talking Tree Project (approx. 0.2 miles away); Habitats: Home for Wildlife (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named Garfield Park (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named Garfield Park Natural Area (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named Garfield Park (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
Regarding The Midwest Athletic Club. The architects Christian Michaelsen and Sigurd Rognstad were prominent Chicago architects whose arguably most notable work is just a quarter-mile east of here: the golden-domed Garfield Park Field House. Other prominent works include the Austin Town Hall in Chicago's Austin neighborhood
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 5, 2025
2. The Midwest Athletic Club Marker
According to the building's registration form for the National Register of Historic Places, this tower building overlooking Garfield Park on Chicago's West Side broke ground on January 30, 1926, and officially opened in March 1928. At the time it was built, the athletic club had more than 2,000 members, most of them businessmen, bankers and their families who lived on the West Side. The building went into receivership in 1930 and was converted into a hotel, although for some time later the athletic club was still headquartered there.
In the 1940s, the building was owned by Arthur Wirtz, whose namesake Wirtz Corporation owned the Chicago Stadium, the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team, and the Chicago Bulls basketball team. His great-grandson Danny runs the corporation today, which still owns the Blackhawks. According to the NRHP form, Arthur Wirtz housed many athletes at this hotel, including boxers and hockey players.
The building today is an apartment complex.
Also see . . .
1. Midwest Athletic Club: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. The form was certified on December
Photographed by Sean Flynn, March 25, 2024
3. 132nd Infantry Monument
The Midwest Athletic Building can be seen behind the monument to the left, across Hamlin Street. The marker is to the right of the door.
2. Chicago History Today: Midwest Athletic Club. (Submitted on February 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Michaelsen & Rognstad: Architects of Fanciful Jazz Age Buildings. An article about Michaelsen & Rognstad's most famous architectural works from Julia Bacharach Consulting.
Excerpt: "Although the pair was only active for about a decade, they produced dozens of exuberant Jazz Age structures throughout Chicago including restaurants, entertainment halls, and monumental park and private club buildings."(Submitted on February 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Charles R. Childs; courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-095575)
4. Midwest Athletic Club
An undated photograph of the Midwest Athletic Club building shows the tower from behind some trees in Garfield Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 473 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on February 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
