Motor Row District

Motor Row District is an automobile sales district on Chicago's South Side stretching along Michigan Avenue through two major blocks. The buildings showcase early 1900s commercial architecture designed specifically to showcase and sell motor vehicles.

The district took shape between 1905 and 1936 when more than 100 automobile manufacturers including Ford, Buick, and Cadillac established their Chicago showrooms here. This period transformed the area into the city's premier destination for automotive sales and commerce.

The district bears the creative imprint of architects Holabird & Roche, Alfred Alschuler, and Albert Kahn, whose Early Commercial and Mission Revival designs still shape the streetscape. These structures tell visitors how central the auto industry became to shaping this neighborhood's character and identity.

Visitors can explore the district freely on foot to examine the buildings' distinctive architectural details and facades at their own pace. Daytime visits work best for observing the structures and checking out the various shops and galleries that now occupy many of these historic spaces.

The Chicago Defender newspaper, a major voice for African American readers, was headquartered in this district as an important center of journalism. Additionally, Chess Records operated here and became a recording space where blues musicians created songs that shaped music history.