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Title: Chicago Illustrated Guide.
Publisher and imprint: Chicago Illustrated Guide published by E. A. West, 114 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago 1, Illinois, United States. Original cover price 35 cents printed on the front panel.
Format: Vintage mid-20th-century illustrated tourist guide booklet with bright yellow card covers, black line drawing of the Chicago Water Tower, and bold black bands reading What To See, Where To Go, What To Do, and Map Of Loop.
Genre and topic: Travel and tourism guide to Chicago, Illinois, presenting sightseeing information, attractions, and practical visitor details for the downtown Loop and surrounding areas.
Opening section: An introductory essay titled This Is Chicago! describes the city as a major vacation center, highlighting its skyline, cultural life, shopping streets, and entertainment districts. A full-page photograph of Michigan Avenue accompanies the text.
Historical views: Interior pages juxtapose images labeled Chicago In 1832 and State Street In 1890 with a modern photograph captioned State Street Today, illustrating the city\'s development and commercial growth.
Major attractions: A long section titled Chicago\'s Wonder Spots profiles institutions such as the Chicago Natural History Museum (formerly Field Museum of Natural History), the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Shedd Aquarium, including brief descriptions and location details.
Parks and lakefront: Additional text covers Burnham Park, Grant Park, Washington Park, Garfield Park, and swimming beaches along Lake Michigan including Montrose Beach, outlining recreation areas and lakefront amenities.
Landmarks and civic sites: Miscellaneous entries describe Buckingham Fountain, Soldier Field, the Board of Trade, the Midwest Stock Exchange, the Bahai Temple, Elk\'s National Memorial Headquarters, Chicago Municipal Airport, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and the produce market.
Entertainment and excursions: Sections on Riverview amusement park, boat trips on the Chicago River and lake, local racing venues, Arlington Park race track, and organized sightseeing tours and observation towers provide options for visitors seeking guided outings.
Reference lists: Later pages list principal statues, churches, hotels, clubs, railroad terminals, newspapers, and exhibition halls, along with an illustrated feature on the Board of Trade Building and night view of the Merchandise Mart.
Map and key: The rear section presents a detailed black-and-white street map titled Chicago\'s Loop And Near North Side For Use In Chicago with an orientation compass and art credit to S. E. Bredlau, accompanied by a location key indexing hotels, department stores, public buildings, theatres, and other points of interest.
Language and audience: English-language travel guide produced in Chicago, Illinois, aimed at tourists, business visitors, and collectors of Chicago and Illinois travel ephemera and midcentury city guidebooks.
Special notes: Original vintage Chicago Illustrated Guide tourist booklet with illustrated sections on major attractions, parks, landmarks, and a printed Loop and Near North Side street map; see photos and condition description for details of this specific copy.
