Genealogy

Explore Chicago’s immigrant communities, architectural and historic treasures, and colorful murals and public art in stations along the lines.

The first L lines were privately owned and operated as separate companies.

Almost every regular CTA rider has some ideas to improve the system: There should be a bigger loop farther out to facilitate connections between trains.

Go behind the scenes at the Skokie Shops Heavy Maintenance Facility, where CTA trains go for their tune-ups, clean-ups – and sometimes total overhauls.

There are three ways that the city defines areas within its boundaries: wards, community areas, and neighborhoods.

When sparks from a passing train cause flames to flare up along the wooden ties of the Brown and Red Line trains, Craig Figtree sometimes puts them out with his garden hose.

The CTA adopted its current, color-coded system of train lines only in 1993, and the colors riders know so well today reached their recognizable state only in 2006.

Dollar Day Plus sits on the 2800 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, just a block from the bustling Logan Square station, and serves as one the last affordable hubs for groceries, home goods, and toys in the Northwest Side neighborhood.

It delights Chicagoans of all ages and surprises commuters who were just expecting a regular train ride home.

Geoffrey Baer interviews Graham Garfield, a CTA employee and walking encyclopedia for the history of the ‘L,’ while riding a 4000-series rail car along the Green Line.

Geoffrey Baer talks to Jace Ross and Tony Coppoletta, the two people who manage the CTA’s Twitter account.

As a child, Juliet Eldred knew every stop on the train.

Sidetracks

The History of the 'L'

The ‘L’ has been windin

About Chicago by 'L'

With the Midway Plaisance and Washington Park to the north, Jackson Park to the east, and Oakwoods Cemetery to the south, the Woodlawn community area is practically bordered by green.