10/19/2026
Chicago raised its streets. Literally. 🏙️
In the mid-1800s, Chicago was so flat and poorly drained that rainwater and sewage had nowhere to go. Streets became muddy, standing water contributed to disease, and the growing city desperately needed a sewer system.
The problem? The new sewers had to sit above the existing ground level.
So Chicago raised its streets—sometimes by several feet—and lifted entire buildings to meet the new grade. In some areas, homes were left behind, which is why you can still find “sunken” houses and unusual below-street entrances in neighborhoods like Pilsen, Bridgeport, Armour Square and South Chicago.
It’s one of those pieces of Chicago history hiding right in plain sight.
Have you ever spotted one of these sunken homes?
