The park, which Humboldt Park gets its namesake from is named after German naturalist and geographer Alexander von Humboldt, who was renowned for his five volume Cosmos: Draft of a Physical Description of the World, whose visit to the United States, ironically did not include Chicago. The mainly large German population in the area at the time influenced the choice of name though.
Humboldt Park was integrated into Chicago in 1869, the year the park was created. Immigrants have played a central role in the neighborhood since it was settled.
The area was able to expand early due to being outside the Chicago’s fire code jurisdiction, which was created in response to the Chicago Fire of 1871, so many projects were affordable.
Humboldt Park manages to be both casual and cosmopolitan at the same time.
The vibrant community includes friendly bars, bistros, family-owned cafes and eclectic restaurants. Residents enjoy lively parades and festivals, a vivid arts and music scene and colorful street murals. Three notable historic public buildings are also found in the area: the Boat House (designed by Schmidt, Garden and Martin), the Field House and the Historic Stables.
Currently, a quarter of residents in the area are Puerto Rican, and this is announced by the gateway to Humboldt Park, a pair of steel Puerto Rican flags. Paseo Boricua is the cultural focus of the neighborhood. The Puerto Rican People’s Parade is reported to be the Hispanic event with the greatest attendance in the United States, attracting a million persons annually.
Humboldt Park dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. Noted historic sites include the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse (dating back to 1928), which has a gymnasium fitness center and a banquet hall, and the Humboldt Park Boathouse, which has a cafe.
