Congress/Wabash (500S/45E)
Congress Parkway and Wabash Avenue, Loop

Service Notes:

South Side Division

Quick Facts:

Address: 500 S. Wabash Avenue
Established: October 18, 1897
Original Line: South Side Rapid Transit
Previous Names: none
Skip-Stop Type: n/a
Rebuilt: n/a
Status: Demolished

History:

The Congress/Wabash station, looking east under the Old Congress Stub terminal. Congress/Wabash's design was similar to Randolph, Madison and Adams along the Wabash leg of the Loop. (Photo from the Eric Bronsky Collection) The Union Elevated Railroad, backed by transit magnate Charles Tyson Yerkes, was incorporated on November 22, 1894 to construct a loop around the central business district, connecting the three elevated lines that until 1897 ended at individual terminals. The first revenue train operated around the downtown quadrangle on October 3, 1897. To allow South Side Rapid Transit trains access to the Loop, a short section of track had to be constructed to connect the two systems. Diverging from the S.S.R.T. main line about 500 feet south of the Congress Stub terminal, the tracks went 1/2 block east over Harrison Street to Wabash, where they proceeded north to the southeast corner of the Loop at Wabash and Van Buren. The Congress/Wabash station was built to replace the Congress Terminal, which closed October 18 when all trains were touted onto the Loop. The station house was similar to those along the Wabash leg of the Loop, executed in painted sheet metal. The Palladian design is similar to Quincy/Wells and Madison/Wabash, featuring Corinthian pilasters, window surrounds resembling the Baroque style and cartouches along the roof line. Fare controls were inside the dual station houses; passengers entered these from a mezzanine platform reached from the street via stairs, then walked onto the "paid" area of the platform. The station took over the function of the Congress Stub, serving attractions like the Auditorium Theater and Hotel, the Congress Hotel and other area accommodations. Soon, the Loop reached operating capacity. On March 10, 1902, the Congress Terminal station was reactivated to handle rush hour trains that could not be accommodated in the Loop. To distinguish it from the Congress/Wabash station, the Congress Terminal was renamed "Old Congress". Both Congress stations remained active until August 1, 1949, when all North-South trains were rerouted through the State Street Subway and the tracks from Wabash/Van Buren to 18th Street were abandoned by the CTA. (The North Shore interurban continued to use the tracks until 1963, but never used the Congress station after CTA abandonment.)

Former location of Congress/Wabash station, looking east on September 30, 2002. The station was closed effective August 1, 1949. On August 10, 1956, the city opened the section of the new Congress Superhighway and widened Congress Parkway from Grant Park to South Ashland Avenue, so the station was probably removed by that point. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)