Italy and Italians in Chicago
This project is to get to know some Chicago History, some landmarks and historic Italian neighborhoods
in Chicago. This extra credit is worth up to 4 percentage points toward your semester grade. The points
given depend on the quality of your work. You should divide the project into three phases: research,
one shorter day to visit Grant Park area monuments. One LONGER day to visit Little Italy monuments
and places.
This project will involve some research. I recommend that you do the research BEFORE visiting the
places. You will appreciate and understand the sites much more. Some of the research links are given
to you. I recommend checking out
You will be expected to take photographs of yourself in front of these places – recruit your
friends/family. It should be evident that you are physically in front of/near to the monument
concerned. You will be expected to take notes/observations of the places you visit. You will be
expected to “paste your photo images onto a paper” onto a page at the end of this document In the
interest of saving trees, you are to email me this document (COMPLETED) [email protected]. This extra
credit is due no later than Tuesday June 20th 2019 at 6 a.m. (Grades must be entered by 10 a.m. on that
same day). If you do not get it to me in a timely manner - I cannot and will not have time to review your
work).
On the last page, you will be expected to place and label your photo images. You are expected to
answer all questions with your own thoughts/words.
Useful sites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Italy,_Chicago
http://www.italiansofchicago.com/DVD/special_features.html
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/758.html
https://www.timeout.com/chicago/little-italy-and-university-village
http://www.chicagotraveler.com/neighborhoods/little-italy-feature.htm
This site is wonderful to help you research about some of the monuments in Chicago.
http://chicagopublicart.blogspot.com/
Pre-Project
When you think of Italians/Italy in Chicago – what words/ideas/images/things come to mind?
List your top FIVE
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Downtown/Grant Park
Italo Balbo and Columbus
Pre-knowledge:
1. Do you know where “Balbo Drive” is in Chicago?
2. Whether your answer is Yes or No…..verify your answer – look it up – where is it?
Research:
1. Who was Italo Balbo?
2. When did he live and why was he famous in Italy?
3. What is/was a ‘black shirt’ (camicia nera)?
4. What was the “March on Rome”?
5. What is a ‘Fasces’?
6. How was this particular item utilized in the time of Mussolini?
7. Cut and paste an image of a Fasces – here below.
8. Why was he (Italo Balbo) famous (in relationship to Chicago)?
9. What and when was Chicago’s ‘Century of Progress’ fair?
10. Where – currently - is the Italo Balbo monument in Chicago?
11. What actually is the Italo Balbo monument in Chicago and why is it special/particular?
12. Where is the key feature of the monument from (specifically in Italy) and how old is it?
Real Time Assignment – Grant Park area Balbo and Columbus monuments.
1. Visit the Balbo monument.
2. What is inscribed on the monument in Italian – type it in here below.
3. Note what symbols are surrounding the Italian inscriptions. Look familiar? What are they?
4. Take a picture of you next to the Balbo monument. In fact take several – especially if you are
with friends! (remember that you will be expected to produce the photo and you had better
have a photo to submit!)
PHOTO 1
5. Visit the Christopher Columbus Monument in Grant Park
6. Note what symbols are on the base of the sculpture
7. Go to the North Side of the sculpture – who is the mom=nument dedicated to?
8. What does this North side inscription state in English:
(type it in here)
9. Go to the South Side of the sculpture – who erected the monument?
10. Go to the SouthEast side of the monument and finish this statement…
This monument has seen the glory…..
11. Take a picture of you next to the Columbus monument. In fact take several – especially if you
are with friends! (remember that you will be expected to produce the photo and you had
better have a photo to submit!)
PHOTO 2
Post visit and reflection
1.
What does the inscription on the Balbo monument mean in English when translated? - type it
in here below.
2. Some Chicagoans consider this monument controversial. Why is that?
3. What do you think about the monument? Do you think it should remain or not? Why?
4. In 2011, Some Chicagoans proposed to rename Balbo Drive – what famous Italian-American did
they desire to rename the street after?
5. Why is this person (E.F.) well-known/kind of a big deal?
6. For what major university did E.F. work?
7. What is the full name of Fermilab and where is it?
8. Which name do you think Chicago should use for “Balbo Drive”? why?
Little Italy History, People, and Environs
Research
1. Little Italy (on Taylor street area) used to be much bigger. Now it is a fraction of the size. What
happened? Do some research into the history and briefly summarize the situation and problem.
Type in your thoughts here (150 words)
2. What was Hull House and what was its mission? (50 words)
3. Who was Frances Xavier Cabrini –
4. When you hear the name ‘Cabrini’ – what do you think of?
5. Who was Cabrini and why is she kind of big deal?
6. What did she do to help Italians in Chicago?
7. She (Cabrini) met Pope LeoXIII. What did he advise her to do?
8. What did she do to help Italians in Chicago?
9. What did Pope Pius XII declare about her in 1946?
10. She is the patroness of whom and helps whom?
11. Where is her Shrine in Chicago?
12. In today’s society, who do you think is our Frances Xavier Cabrini?
13. Watch the video: http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2012/10/01/chicagos-mother-cabrini-shrinereopens . What are five (5) impressions/thoughts about Cabrini and this place?
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3
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14. The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans is an organization that used to be in Little Italy
but moved later (to the suburbs). Look at the site below.
https://jccia.wordpress.com/
a. What is the ‘mission statement’ according to the web-page?
b.
What kinds of things does this organization do?
c. What are some affiliate organizations? What do they seem to have in common/deal with?
15. Who was Joe Di Maggio?
16. Where was he from?
17. With regard to American history, what shameful thing happened to Joe’s parents?
18. Why is Joe di Maggio kind of a big deal?
19. What is the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame?
20. Who started the museum and what sport did it originally focus on?
21. Do a little research about this museum. Who are five athletes commemorated here that you
have heard of (or not)? Research who is in the museum/hall of fame. Name five athletes, what
they played and when they lived.
NAME
WHAT PLAYED
LIFE SPAN
*
*
*
*
*
22. Visit the site: https://www.ourladyofpompeii.org/ - Go under the Welcome section. View the
video https://www.ourladyofpompeii.org/you-tube-video/
List ten thoughts/comments about what you find interesting/curious
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23. What is the history/relationship of the church to the Italian community? (75 words)
24. Where is the sister shrine in Italy?
25. Search in the church/shrine’s site under events/culture. What kinds of things does this church
do which relate to/reach out to the Italian American/Italian community and/or other
communities in Chicago? Record three observations.
1
2
3
26. Mini research on the following food establishments in Little Italy (most of them have websites!)
Mario’s Lemonade
1. When was this establishment founded?
2. Why is it special?
Fontano’s Subs – Polk Street (no other locations!)
1. When was this establishment founded?
2. Why is it special?
Ferrara’s Bakery – Taylor Street
1. When was this establishment founded?
2. Why is it special?
Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap (restaurant)
1. When was this establishment founded?
2. Why is it special?
Two Parks near Little Italy: Garibaldi Park and Arrigo Park
Research
1. Who was Giuseppe Garibaldi and when did he live?
2. Who paid for and organized for a statue in Chicago?
3. Where was the Garbaldi statue formally located?
4. Where is the Garibladi statue located now and why is it in this particular place?
5. You know who Columbus was – but where was the statue’s first home (before Arrigo Park). In
other words, how did it end up in Chicago?
6. Besides the Columbus statues in Grant and Arrigo Parks, there is a third one in Chicago. Where
is it? (hint: the place is associated with the famous Drake hotel)
7. What major Chicago event does this third Columbus statue commemorate?
Real Time Assignment – Garibaldi and Columbus (Arrigo Park) monuments.
1. Go to Garibaldi Park.
2. Find the Garibaldi Monument.
3. What are your impressions/thoughts of this monument? (three thoughts)
*
*
*
4. Take a picture of you next to the Garibaldi monument. In fact take several – especially if you
are with friends! (remember that you will be expected to produce the photo and you had
better have a photo to submit!)
PHOTO 3
5. Go to Arrigo Park.
6. Find the Columbus monument
7. Take a picture of you next to the Columbus monument. In fact take several – especially if you
are with friends! (remember that you will be expected to produce the photo and you had
better have a photo to submit!)
PHOTO
8. What are your impressions/thoughts of this monument? (three thoughts)
*
*
*
9. Which Columbus statue to you prefer? The one in Grant Park area or the one in Arrigo park?
Explain your preference.
Real Time Assignment – Closer in to Little Italy : Piazza DiMaggio, NIASHF and our Lady of Pompeii.
1. Visit Piazza DiMaggio and find the Joe DiMaggio sculpture.
2. Take a picture of you next to the DiMaggio monument. In fact take several – especially if you
are with friends! (remember that you will be expected to produce the photo and you had
better have a photo to submit!)
PHOTO 5
3. What is the Chicago Connection – why is there a statue of Joe DiMaggio in Chicago? (hint: study
the fountain/piazza area. You should find a plaque that will give you some understanding)
4. Go to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
5. Take a picture of you in front of the National Italian American Sports Museum. In fact take
several – especially if you are with friends! (remember that you will be expected to produce
the photo and you had better have a photo to submit!)
PHOTO 6
6. What are three impressions/thoughts about the museum/hall of fame building.
A
B
C
7. Go to The Shrine (Church) of Our Lady of Pompeii
8. Take a picture of you in front of The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii In fact take several –
especially if you are with friends! (remember that you will be expected to produce the photo
and you had better have a photo to submit!)
PHOTO 7
Real Time Assignment –
Little Italy – the fun part – FOOD!!!!
1. Visit one of the food places: Mario’s Lemonade, Fontano’s Subs (on POLK), Ferrar’s Bakery,
Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap.
2. Get a food treat from ONE of the following: Mario’s Lemonade, Fontano’s Subs, Ferrara’s
Bakery, Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap– these guys are all part of what made Little Italy before UIC
took over.
Be sure to check HOURS before you go to these locations! Most are walking distance from each
other…but the Bakery might be best reached with car.
Mario’s Lemonade
1068 W Taylor St
Chicago, IL 60607
(open all days – as it is now ‘season’)
Fontano’s Subs – Polk Street
1058 W Polk St, Chicago, IL 60607
(open til about 8 on weekdays, limited hours on Saturday and closed on Sundays)
Ferrara’s Bakery – Taylor Street 2210 W Taylor St Chicago, IL 60612
(not open in evenings and limited hours on Sundays – check before you go!)
Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap (restaurant)
1073 W Vernon Park Pl, Chicago, IL 60607
Get a treat from ONE of the places – your choice – be sure to have a PHOTO of yourself AT THE PLACE
with your LITTLE ITALY FOOD.
3. Take a picture of you in front/in of the food establishment WITH YOUR TREAT. In fact take
several – especially if you are with friends! (remember that you will be expected to produce
the photo and you had better have a photo to submit!)
PHOTO 8
POST PROJECT: Type in your reflections here.
1. What did you most enjoy in this project?
2. What is the second thing you most enjoyed in this project?
3. What most surprised you in this project?
4. What most annoyed/frustrated you in this project? (besides time/work)
5. What do you most appreciate about Chicago Italians and little Italy in this project?
6. What would you like to learn more about?
7. What is your unresolved question/curiosity from this project?
MY EIGHT (8) PHOTOS – Put your images and comments here.
Photo number
PHOTOGRAPH of YOU in front
of monuments/places
Comments/thoughts and
reflections on the place visited
20 words each place
1. Balbo monument
2. Columbus monument in
Grant Park
3. Garibaldi monument
4. Columbus monument in
Arrigo Park.
5. Piazza
DiMaggio/DiMaggio
monument
6. National Italian
American Sports Hall of
Fame.
7.
Shrine/Church of Our
Lady of Pompeii
8. Little Italy FOOD place
(and food0!
CHECK LIST:
______________Pre-Project ( thoughts)
_____________Downtown/Grant Park
Italo Balbo and Columbus
Pre-knowledge
Research:
_____________Real Time Assignment – Grant Park area Balbo and Columbus monuments.
(photos and notes) (NOTE: you are TO POST PHOTOS IN LAST SECTION
_____________Post visit and reflection
_____________ Little Italy History, People, and Environs
Research
Two Parks near Little Italy: Garibaldi Park and Arrigo Park
Research
_____________Real Time Assignment – Garibaldi and Columbus (Arrigo Park) monuments.
(photos and notes) (NOTE: you are TO POST PHOTOS IN LAST SECTION
_____________Real Time Assignment –
Closer in to Little Italy : Piazza DiMaggio, NIASHF and our Lady of Pompeii.
(photos and notes) (NOTE: you are TO POST PHOTOS IN LAST SECTION
_____________Real Time Assignment – Little Italy – the fun part – FOOD!!!!
(photos and notes) (NOTE: you are TO POST PHOTOS IN LAST SECTION
_____________ POST PROJECT: your reflections
_____________MY EIGHT (8) PHOTOS – Cut and paste your images and write comments
(this is where you put your photos)
EMAIL THIS COMPLETED DOCUMENT IN AN ATTACHMENT TO MS. TACKE – [email protected]
BEFORE 6:00 a.m. JUNE 20, 2017 (TUESDAY)
LATE WORK CANNOT BE CONSIDERED POSSIBLE TO REVIEW/GRADE AND WILL LIKELY NOT BE GRADED