Named after the famous Roman consul, Cicero, a town in the western suburbs of Chicago, has long been a blue-collar town closely linked to manufacturing.
In the 1920s, Al Capone moved his base to Cicero to evade the Chicago police, and several landmarks related to his era remain in the town to this day.
The manufacturer that reached its peak during Capone’s era was Western Electric Company, located at the Hawthorne Plant. The last remnants of this vast factory complex are preserved along Cicero Mark Road in the form of a medieval-style tower.
This factory, which produced telephone components and electrical products, can be said to have given birth to Cicero and is remembered for its progressive employment philosophy and high-paying, satisfied workforce.
1. Columbus Park
This park in the northeastern part of Cicero is a masterpiece of prairie-style design, entirely conceived by the acclaimed landscape architect Jens Jensen (1860–1951).
Jensen was able to freely apply his design philosophy at Columbus Park, which was planned between 1915 and 1920 on a 144-acre site.
The park harmoniously blends with the existing natural landscape, featuring a winding lake designed to mimic the form of a prairie river, along with charming small waterfalls and streams crafted from layered rocks.
Columbus Park is adorned with native plants, and its intertwining stone paths ultimately converge at the “Council Ring”—a circular stone bench used for storytelling.
The park also incorporates the nine-hole links-style Columbus Park Golf Course.
2. Oak Park Greenhouse
This greenhouse is both a local historical treasure and a botanical wonder, located on a small plot of land near Cicero, just a few minutes’ drive away.
Built in 1929, the building features a grand Edwardian-style design and houses a diverse array of plant species. Many of the plants cultivated in Oak Park’s public spaces are grown in this facility.
The collection includes desert plants such as various cacti and succulents, as well as laurel trees, fig trees, date palms, and olive trees.
You can also admire a variety of orchids, tropical rainforest plants, ferns, and tropical fruits ranging from figs to bananas, lemons, and papayas.
The greenhouse hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the monthly “Uncorked” wine festival, which features local cuisine and live music performances.
3. St. Mary’s Church in Chestohowa
During your tour of Cicero, a historic church built in 1918 will catch your eye.
This magnificent Neo-Gothic building is a classic example of the Polish Cathedral style, which is specific to the Great Lakes region.
Most of these Catholic churches were built between the 19th and early 20th centuries and are known for their grand scale and dramatic decorations, and St. Mary’s Church in Chestorowa is no exception.
Two 200-foot-tall towers stand on either side of the main entrance, topped with sawtooth spires, visible from miles away.
The communion rail, pulpit, and altar inside are all made of Carrara marble, with a replica of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa, a Polish icon, atop the main altar.
In front of the church stands a statue of Christ the King by Czesław Dźwigaj, the artist famous for the giant bronze doors of St. Hyacinth’s Basilica in Chicago.
An interesting anecdote about the church is that Al Capone’s sister, Mafalda, was married here in 1930.
4. Hawthorne Works Tower
Until 1983, Cicero was dominated by a massive factory complex that opened in 1905, producing telephone equipment and household appliances.
At its peak, Hawthorne Works employed 45,000 workers and became a focal point for influential academic industrial research in the 1920s.
Around the same time, pioneering engineers and statisticians Walter A. Shewhart and W. Edwards Deming worked at the factory.
After the factory closed, the site was converted into a shopping center, but the factory’s iconic castle-like tower, featuring decorative arrowslits and battlements, still stands on its original site.
To learn about the Hawthorne Factory’s artifacts and history, visit the Hawthorne Museum at Morton College.
5. Freddy’s Pizza
This family-run Italian deli, market, and restaurant located at 1600 61st Avenue is a popular community spot that has been in operation since 1968.
Freddy’s Pizza is completely unpretentious, making it the perfect fit for Cicero.
Here, you can enjoy delicious Italian specialties, from Neapolitan-style and Chicago-style pizza to ravioli, risotto stuffed with vodka sauce, and chicken Vesuvio.
At the deli counter, you can choose from a wide selection of imported premium meats and sausages, cheeses, condiments, olive oil, homemade tomato sauce, and freshly made salads and pasta to take home and enjoy.
Also popular are frozen lemonade and ice cream, as well as a variety of homemade flavors.
6. Cecil Community Park
This clean and tidy community park is the main gathering place in Cecil. At the center of Cecil Community Park is a small square surrounded by formal flower beds, with pavilions dotted around the perimeter.
During the summer, a series of festivals, games, and activities are held here, while the parking lot in the southwest corner is transformed into a carnival with stalls.
Christmas is an excellent time to visit, as the park is illuminated with holiday lights. The park also features several permanent facilities, such as an open-air skate park, and its network of trails attracts a steady stream of runners, families with strollers, cyclists, and dog walkers.
7. West Celesmark Road
This main thoroughfare runs through Cicero and extends eastward to McCormick Place, south of Chicago’s downtown area.
In Cicero, West Cicero Road is the hub for most local businesses. Given Cicero’s Hispanic population, there are plenty of authentic Mexican taco shops, Mexican restaurants, bakeries, ice cream shops, and markets.
Recommended restaurants include: La Lupita (6539), Indio (6037), La Central (6034), Michoacán Delicious Ice Cream Shop (5737), and Guadalupe Taco Shop (5517).
For those interested in local history, 4833 West 22nd Street was the location of Al Capone’s headquarters in Cicero in 1924.
West Cicero Avenue features numerous early 20th-century buildings worth admiring, with the 1927 Olympic Theatre (6134) being a standout example.
8. Bobby Hull Community Rink
Named after one of the greatest players in Chicago Blackhawks history, this outdoor ice rink officially opened in Cicero in 2011.
Weather permitting, the Bobby Hull Community Ice Rink is open seven days a week year-round.
Non-residents pay $3 for admission and $5 for skate rental, while Cicero residents pay only $1.
Most days are divided into stick and puck sessions (typically from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and lighted open skating sessions that continue into the evening.
9. Hawthorne Park District
There aren’t many other public open spaces in Cicero’s downtown area, but there is a large green space behind the Hawthorne Park District building.
It offers facilities such as well-maintained basketball courts, tennis courts, and volleyball courts, as well as small swings for children to play on.
You’ll find a large open lawn suitable for recreational sports, picnics, and walks, surrounded by tall mature trees, with two baseball fields on the south side.
There are ample free parking spaces next to the park management building, and you can also rent the hall here for private events.
10. Portillo’s Hot Dogs
If you’re in the Chicago area and craving quick, delicious food, this iconic Chicago restaurant is a great choice.
Portillo’s Hot Dogs was founded in 1963 in Villa Park. Despite its reputation, it has only recently begun expanding beyond Illinois.
Almost all of the chain’s 60 locations are within the state, with one branch located on the west side of Roosevelt Road in Forest Park, just a few minutes’ drive from Cicero.
Portillo’s is famous for its Chicago-style hot dogs, which are topped with chopped onions, tomatoes, pickles, and other condiments, all piled onto a mustard seed bun. Additionally, its menu features other Chicago classics such as Italian beef sandwiches and baked mozzarella cheese macaroni.
11. Barry Park
Once winter arrives and snow covers the ground, families flock to this community park, which boasts one of the best ski slopes in the surrounding area.
The slope is carefully maintained throughout the season, and the park, located a few minutes’ drive north of Cicero, also features a small playground for toddlers, a soccer field, and a baseball field.
Barry Park has an interesting history; in the early 20th century, it was the site of an artificial gas plant.
In the late 1990s, harmful chemicals were discovered in the soil, leading to a three-year cleanup effort. When the park reopened in 2005, it was better than ever.
12. Cicero Mall
This large shopping center on the east side of Cicero features numerous large chain stores and chain restaurants.
Since its opening in 1995, Cicero Mall has housed stores such as Target, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, GameStop, and Five Below.
The area also features chain restaurants like IHOP, Sonic, McDonald’s, KFC, Panda Express, and Starbucks.
Further north, under the shadow of the Hawthorne Factory Building, there is another shopping center with stores like Foot Locker, Menards, an AMC theater with 14 screens, and restaurants like Taco Bell, Popeye’s, and Subway.
13. North Riverfront Park Shopping Center
Continue along West Selmark Road for a few minutes to reach this large shopping center on North Riverfront.
North Riverfront Park Shopping Center features nearly 100 stores and services, including familiar brands like Old Navy, Sephora, H&M, Forever 21, Foot Locker, Victoria’s Secret, Hot Topic, Claire’s, and Kay Jewelers.
The anchor store on the south side is JCPenney, and you can also find popular food court brands like Cinnabon, Dunkin’, Baskin Robbins, and Auntie Anne’s.
14. Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park
If you’re looking for family activities, this center is located on North River, adjacent to the shopping center.
Urban Air offers a wide range of activities, with attractions that go far beyond traditional trampoline parks.
Here you’ll find go-karts, virtual reality games, rock climbing walls, the “Sky Rider” zip line, rope courses, a “Adventure Hub” playground for children, and bumper cars.
Additionally, there are the usual activities found at trampoline parks, such as the Wipeout zone, battle beams, dodgeball courts, tumbling tracks, and dunk zones.
You can also purchase a flexible pass to choose how many activities to participate in based on your preferences.
15. Hawthorne Racecourse
Located in southern Cicero, Hawthorne Racecourse first opened in 1891 and is one of the oldest family-owned racecourses in North America.
After horse racing was banned in Chicago in the early 20th century, the site became a testing ground for aviation pioneer Victor Allen Lockheed.
A notable feature of the main track is the finish straight, which spans 1,320 feet, making it one of the longest finish straights in the United States.
Three events worth marking on your calendar are the Thoroughbred Graded Stakes, the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (October), the Illinois Derby (April), and the Sixty Sail Handicap (April).
At the time of writing, the track is undergoing a $400 million renovation project that will transform it into a comprehensive destination combining a casino and entertainment facilities, complementing the historic track.
