Charles Tyson Yerkes put the “L” in the Loop. Photo credit: Chicago History Museum
Steam-powered cable cars circulated downtown and gave the Loop its name before the “L” trains came on the scene. Photo credit: Chicago History Museum
Who put the “L” in the Loop? If you’re talking about the elevated tracks that circle the area, then Charles Tyson Yerkes gets much of the credit. He championed building elevated tracks to bring in trains that had previously stopped outside of the area.
It’s important to note, however, that there was a Loop before there was an “L” in it; earlier, steam-powered cable cars circulated downtown, giving the area its name prior to the coming of the elevated tracks and trains.
