Downers Grove, Illinois

Other Notable Facts

Downers Grove is the home to Downers Grove Golf Course, founded in 1892 by Charles Blair Macdonald and the oldest golf course west of the Allegheny Mountains. Downers Grove also prides itself on having one of the largest collections of Sears-Roebuck Catalog Homes which were erected between 1908 and 1940.

Related Topics:
1892 - Allegheny Mountains - Sears-Roebuck Catalog Homes - 1908 - 1940

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Downers Grove is the home of the Tivoli Theater, which opened in 1928 as only the second designed and built for sound motion pictures and which contains an original Wurlitzer organ played regularly.

Related Topics:
1928 - Wurlitzer

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In 1928, the powerful transmitter and three tower array for radio station WCFL (1000 AM) was relocated from Navy Pier in Chicago to Downers Grove. Originally named for its owner, the Chicago Federation of Labor, and known as the "Voice of Labor," the station became WLUP-AM in 1987, and in 1990 became WMVP-AM. The 1930s era transmitter building still displays the distinctive WCFL lettering.

Related Topics:
WCFL - Navy Pier - WLUP-AM - WMVP-AM

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The village hosts the annual National Criterium Championships for cycling and inline skating in August. Three National Champions are awarded for Men's Inline Skating, Women's Inline Skating and USPS/USPRO Professional Cycling. The event draws racers from all over the country and even the world as well as visitors from accross the country for the event.

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