Location
For over 150 years, people from all over the world have come to where the plains meet the lake, making Chicago one of the world's great cities. It has large communities of Irish, African Americans, Mexicans and Latin Americans, and more Poles than any city other than Warsaw. This mix of cultures makes the city exciting and unique. Chicago has a rich collection of theatres, museums, concerts, and clubs; on any night you can find a symphony concert, a Broadway musical, a punk band, experimental theatre, and classic Chicago blues. The city is a mecca for architecture fans, with a world-renowned skyline and fascinating details.
Chicago's neighborhoods are diverse and lively, with busy streets and lots of things to do. But the city can also be peaceful and beautiful, especially alongside Lake Michigan, with its beaches and running paths.
Newberry seminar participants live and work in the Gold Coast neighborhood, one of the city's most prosperous. Here students find quiet streets and classic rowhouses, but it's only steps to Rush Street – a leading nightlife district – and the Magnificent Mile, with the city's finest shopping. The program's apartments are close to a variety of restaurants and coffee bars, as well as a full-service grocery store. There is ample public transportation, including a subway (El) stop and several bus lines. The Newberry Library, where the seminar meets and participants work, is located just a few blocks away from the student apartments. This independent research library, focused on the humanities, was established in 1887. The Library's holdings span the history and culture of western Europe from the Middle Ages to the mid-twentieth century and the Americas from the time of first contact between Europeans and Native Americans.