//
The Far Southeast Side of Chicago is a huge section of Chicago with only one large tourist draw: the Pullman Historic District. Most travelers will literally just pass over this district on the Chicago Skyway, but look closely and something may catch your eye.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The museum, a tribute to A. Phillip Randolph, focuses on African-American culture and history, the Pullman Historic District, and U.S. Labor history. The interior has a big and rare manual tracker Organ.
A landmark church in the heart of the historic Pullman community. It was initially intended to be a Unitarian church, where all the workers would go to service. That did not catch on and the church sat empty for years before becoming a Presbyterian and then Methodist church. However, it still has original cherry wood pews, stained glass windows, and one of the few manual-tracker pipe organs left in the US.
The first stop to any Pullman visit houses a 20 minute video about the town's history, several exhibits, and a gift shop. Offers guided walking tours every first Sunday of the month, as well as events and self-guided tour brochures. Be sure to head around to the back of the building (North side) to check out the impressive mural, "Visual Interpretations of Pullman," which depicts the former Pullman Arcade building coupled with an interpretation of the Pullman town and its laborers.
The Hotel Florence, named after Pullman's favorite daughter, is the most splendid building in the district. It was built in 1881 to accommodate visitors from all over the United States and Europe who came to see Pullman's "perfect town." The hotel is closed as it is going through a $1.2 million restoration and renovation program, but interior tours, focused on the restoration itself, can be arranged through the Historic Pullman Foundation.
An Obelisk marking the State Line between Illinois and Indiana near Lake Michigan just south of Calumet Park and beach along a small road leading to the front gate of the State Line Generating Station.
Market Square is just lovely. The Market Hall, which served as a grocery store, is being restored as it has suffered from several fires over the years.
One of the world's most beautiful factories is undergoing a $3.4 million restoration, after it was badly damaged in 1998 by an arsonist. 90 minute guided tours, which focus on the restoration itself, are available by advance appointment.
James P Fitzgibbons Southeast Chicago Historical Museum
A small history museum with exhibits celebrating the area's once mighty steel industry and Labor history.
Includes a tour of about eight historic Pullman district homes as well as the visitor center and Greenstone Church. Advance reservations strongly recommended, as the highly popular tour sells out quickly.
36 holes of golf on the shores of Lake Calumet with some classic Far South views of the distant skyline and nearby decaying steel mills. Lighted driving range.
Wolf Lake
A conservation area around large Wolf Lake that is a study in contrasts between the industrial surroundings and the local cattails. It's a surprisingly good spot for fishing and even some hunting. In the winter, come here for ice skating and ice fishing.
Group tours of a colorful soap factory. Schedule at least a week in advance.
This particular location of the great South Side fried chicken chain is an exceptional find for one reason — a drive thru window! As always, cheap, usually a little dirty, and always delicious.
Michigan Ave in Roseland is far out of the way, and not a pleasant place for a stroll, but this nearly 40 year old establishment is worth the trek for some of the freshest, most mouth-watering donuts you'll ever have. Old Fashioned Donuts is written up in the main Chicago papers every year as having the best donuts in the city (Dat Donuts is a mere tribute band).
This is about as far from the city center as you can get, but this ramshackle little hot dog stand serves up some of Chicago's best hot dogs. They've got a drive thru, and there are usually a couple hungry squad cars "refueling" in the line. The picnic tables outside are a great place to soak up the local atmosphere, watching riced-out cars and other hungry patrons roll by.
One of the last great waterside shrimp and fish shacks from the glory days of the Port of Chicago. Calumet Fisheries offers all sorts of breaded and fried seafood, but the slow-smoked offerings might be the top draw. They recognize this too — they advertise their smoked chubs as "fish crack." The atmosphere here is just right too, it's right by the 95th St bridge (which the Blues Brothers jumped in their car), and boasts some serious industrial vistas. Featured on Anthony Bourdain's show.
Hienie's has been around for decades (albeit not in the same spot) and proudly upholds grand tradition of roadside shacks full of fried seafood and chicken catering to industrial workers. Their shrimp and gizzards are simply outstanding, and their hot sauce is beloved enough by the East Siders that it's made its way into local grocery stores. Any way you slice it, the piping hot, cholesterol laden, made to order food here will be great, but it's best enjoyed on the hood of your car while gazing off into the nearby smokestacks.
This steak house, despite the inauspicious location, in which true restaurants with table service are extremely rare, is actually quite good and strikingly cheaper than what you would pay for comparable food downtown.
There are a lot of good pizzerias in Hegwisch, most of them bearing a name oddly similar to Pudgy's, but this is the great one. The Chicago-style thin crust pizzas here hold up well against the best in the city, with the famous entree being the garlic-drenched "Bob's Mistake." Downsides include high prices (for thin crust) and very limited seating — just two small tables, usually taken up by people waiting for their order.
The bar at the end of Chicago. Seriously, if you stumble out the wrong way, you'll fall into Wolf Lake. Old-timey moose-head decor might make you long for those bygone days of a fine cigar with your evening's whiskey, but even without the smoke, this is a great place for a beer with the establishment's legendary fish fry or Polish food.
Probably the nicest neighborhood bar on the East Side (although, that said, the nicest bar in East Side is called Crow Bar), with strong drinks, friendly clientele, and sports on the television. Amazingly you can smoke here, despite the ban, as the owner openly flouts it, keeping a "smoking tip jar" as a collection for paying the fines. It's also not a bad place to grab a corned beef sandwich.
This would seem to be yet another run of the Mill workingman's watering hole, except for the fact that it has served as a Yugoslav-American cultural center for decades. A drink here is a pleasant occasion, but focus on the menu — the Serbian cevapcicci (cheh-VAHP-chee-chee) will open your eyes to sausage possibilities you never knew existed.
One of the favorite (and most prominently-located) bars in Hegewisch, renowned not simply for being a nice laid-back bar, but also for their legendary fried chicken. Their dining area is only open on Fridays 4PM-8PM, but you can get the fried chicken to go whenever you like if you call ahead of time.
Offers king-size beds, televisions, clock radios, and some furniture.
Just off State Street in Roseland.
By bus
To an extent, buses can get you from point to point in the district, but there are no good routes coming here from the city center.
By car
Since this is the least densely populated section of Chicago, a car is the most convenient method of travel. Free on-street parking is plentiful.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Chicago · International · MDW
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Far Southeast Side and United States.
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the best time to visit Hawaii in 2026. Compare whale seasons, big-wave surf, dry shoulder months, hotel rates, and island microclimates.
9 min read
InspirationDiscover the best places to visit in April. Compare Dutch tulip fields, Thailand's Songkran water festival, Roman spring gardens, and cherry blossoms.
7 min read
Travel tipsA practical guide to travelling with medication and refrigerated drugs like insulin and GLP-1s. Learn airline rules, customs papers, and cooling tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.