Hyde Park is a neighborhood on the shore of Lake Michigan seven miles south of the Loop.

Being so close to the lakefront is a boon all year round. It's just a great area for living.” —M.L., resident

Sometimes called Chicago’s first suburb, Hyde Park was annexed by the city in 1889 and slowly became a denser, more urban neighborhood.

In the 1890s, the University of Chicago was established in Hyde Park and the World’s Columbian Exposition attracted millions of visitors.

The university campus sits in the southwest part of the neighborhood, and many professors and students live in the blocks to the east.

A walk on E 56th Street.

53rd Street is Hyde Park's oldest shopping district.

Student-friendly hangouts include a revamped 1915 theater, used bookshops, and eclectic restaurants.

57th Street is known for its independent bookstores.

Many stately homes from Hyde Park’s early days still stand.

Now they’re mixed in with rowhouses, six-flats, and apartment buildings.

Hyde Park is a cultural hub for the city’s African American community.

Bessie Coleman Park is named after the country’s first female African American pilot.

The Fountain of Time marks the entrance to Washington Park from Midway Plaisance Park. The neighborhood is surrounded on three sides by park and lakefront.

Friday afternoon in Nichols Park, a 10-acre green space with flower gardens, vegetable gardens, and a wildflower meadow.

Hyde Park’s distinctive churches, homes, and museums draw architecture fans to the neighborhood.

Bicycles are a popular way to get around. The commute to the Loop is about half an hour by bus or 15 minutes by train.

Friday afternoon at the University of Chicago.