Let’s Take A Look Back

 

credit:images.metroscene.com

Oak Street Beach, Summer 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Megan McKinney

 

 

Here we are in the middle of an immense continent—far away from the great oceans on either side—yet we in Chicago have lovely sand beaches, including our favorite, a few steps from Oak Street and backed by Architect Benjamin Marshall’s glorious Drake Hotel. How many decades has it been since we and those who preceded us began wandering down to this lovely stretch of golden sand as soon as possible following Memorial Day each year?

 

Oak Street Beach as it is today in our early 21st century.

 

 Same scene, same day—from the opposite direction.

 

And very similar in 1975

 

 This is what our predecessors experienced in the Oak Street Beach of 1960

 

And in 1954

 

Here is a shot from the1930’s

 

We are told this is a photograph from1929

 

 And look at the crowd in 1925.

 

Here we are even earlier.

 

The ladies are said to be on Oak Street Beach “probably” in the 1920’s.

 

But why look back when in a scant few weeks will have a full summer to enjoy this lovely beach within our city.

 

Author photo: Robert F. Carl