Illinois Lake Region

McHenry Illinois – Gateway to the Fox River and Lakes Region – Playground of Chicago and Northern Illinois

This charming and uncommon 1920s promotional brochure advertises McHenry, Illinois as the Wonderland of the Middle West. Text on the verso assures the audience that “it is unnecessary to travel hundreds of miles to reach a desirable vacation ground. Right near Chicago, in the grand old Fox River Valley, there is plenty of water, scenery, pure air and sports of every description.”

The central map of the lake region north of Chicago highlights the proximity to the Windy City and the various networks of railways and automobile routes that connect the two. Churches, cemeteries, schools, and prominent geographic features are also noted throughout. The map was copyrighted in 1928 and published in Chicago by the Practical Map Company. The popularity of the automobile saw Lake and McHenry counties rapidly develop into an outdoor playground for those who could afford the trip – golf courses, resorts, dance halls, and boat clubs catered to the elite, while hunting, fishing, and hiking kept the more modest classes entertained.