Plat of Ravinia Highlands

The Greatest Opportunity Of the Year For Investment in Choice Residential Property!

“Little is needed to drive home the fact that the most beautiful, the most aristocratic, and the most desirable residence property available to Chicago families is the Highland Park-Ravinia District of the North Shore.” – Promotional text.

This rare and ephemeral promotional circular was distributed around 1925 by Frederick H. Bartlett, one of the Chicago area’s foremost real estate developers. Ever the skillful salesman, Bartlett emphasizes the subdivision’s convenient access to the North Shore Line, picturesque setting, and the social prestige associated with one of Chicago’s most affluent suburban communities. Of particular appeal was nearby Ravinia Park and its celebrated outdoor theater, which by the Roaring Twenties had become one of the region’s premier summer cultural destinations.

Opening the pamphlet reveals a striking two-page spread of ten black-and-white photographs showcasing the best of Highland Park, including an imposing “typical residence,” the elegant Moraine Hotel, the well-improved Sheridan Road, and a bustling downtown streetscape. The rear cover features a simple plat of Ravinia Highlands with the Ravinia Depot identified in the upper right. Lots were offered from just $349 for a 40-foot homesite, while parcels fronting Green Bay Road commanded a substantial premium at $899 and up. Prospective buyers were even promised free transportation to the subdivision aboard a “fleet of big, luxurious automobiles, manned by careful drivers” – a fitting illustration of the aspirational marketing that characterized Chicago’s suburban land boom during the 1920s.