‘Chicago’s Historic Motor Row’ subject of talk at Studebaker museum

Tribune Staff Report
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The Studebaker National Museum presents a lecture by history speaker Barbara J. Barrett, MPA, CAE, “Chicago’s Historic Motor Row District 1905-1936,” on Nov. 16, 2022. The district is the largest, intact, early “motor colony” in the United States.
The Studebaker National Museum presents a lecture by history speaker Barbara J. Barrett, MPA, CAE, “Chicago’s Historic Motor Row District 1905-1936,” on Nov. 16, 2022. The district is the largest, intact, early “motor colony” in the United States.

SOUTH BEND — The Studebaker National Museum presents the lecture “Chicago’s Historic Motor Row District 1905-1936” at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at 201 Chapin St.

Presented by history edutainment speaker Barbara J. Barrett, the talk focuses on the largest, intact, early “motor colony” in the United States, Chicago’s Historic Motor Row District.

Located on South Michigan Avenue, it was designated a Chicago Landmark on December 13, 2000, and added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 18, 2002. At its peak, as many as 116 different makes of automobiles were sold and repaired on Motor Row.

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The names of these early auto companies — Ford, Buick, Hudson, Cadillac, Locomobile, Marmon, and Premier — are still visible today on the building’s brick and terra cotta facades located on South Michigan Avenue.

Barrett will talk about the early development of the American automobile industry, the top-flight architects who designed the elaborate automobile showrooms on Motor Row, several of the 116 automobile companies located there and the automobiles for sale in those showrooms.

This talk is rescheduled from its original July date.

Admission is $2; free for members.

For more information, call 574-235-9714 or visit studebakermuseum.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: ‘Chicago’s Historic Motor Row’ topic of talk at Studebaker museum