August is here, and now is the time to cram in all of your Chicago summer activities while you can!
One other activity with an expiration date is admiring the Damen Silos. Built in 1906, these grain elevators along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in the McKinley Park neighborhood held tens of thousands of bushels of grain. The Damen Silos have been vacant since 1977. Since then, they have been a popular spot for photographers, urban explorers, and films like Transformers. Demolition started on the Damen Silos and will be completed before the end of 2025.
The Damen Silos are a reminder of Chicago’s agricultural legacy, and a disappearing icon. You can learn more about the Damen Silos in my book Secret Chicago.
Want to discover other hidden places in Chicago? Check out my books Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure and Chicago Scavenger!
Wondering what to do in Chicago this month? I’ve rounded up 45 fun things to do in Chicago in August!
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger,’ and she has contributed to several travel guidebooks. Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
