The Sunday afternoon tours run from April 14 through July 2, 2002, the society said.

"The public tends to look at the 'El' as transportation, but we are trying to show it as a window on Chicago's history," says David Cholewiak, public historian in CHS' History Programs department. "This engaging tour along a 100-year-old transit system allows people to experience Chicago's past from a brand new perspective."

One of the oldest continuing lines in the city, the Ravenswood Brown Line runs above ground from the downtown Loop through a dozen neighborhoods, before terminating on the city's northwest side. Large swaths of the city's history can be observed from its heights as the line moves through some of the most ethnically, economically and geographically diverse areas of the city.

Highlights of "Life Along the El" include architectural landmarks (such as Wrigley Field, originally known as Weeghman Park); key historical events (the Chicago Fire of 1871); patterns of ethnic settlement ("German Broadway" and Lakeview) and the many individuals who played important roles in Chicago history, including "El" station architects William Gibb and Arthur Gerber.

The two-hour "El" tour reflects the key themes of "Out of the Loop: Neighborhood Voices," a 2001 addition to CHS' permanent Chicago History Gallery. The roundtrip tour will focus on patterns of immigration and migration; work and employment; urban renewal and gentrification; and the unique stories of those who live in the neighborhoods along the Ravenswood Brown Line.

For more information or to make reservations for "Life Along the El," call the Chicago Historical Society at 312-642-4600.

The Chicago Historical Society, a major museum and research center for Chicago and American history, is located on Clark Street at North Avenue, and can be reached by CTA buses 11, 22, 36, 72, 151 and 156. Public parking is conveniently located one block north of CHS at Clark and LaSalle Streets (enter on Stockton Drive). The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m. Suggested museum admission is $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and students (ages 13-22) with valid school IDs; $1 for children (ages 6-12); and free for members and children under 6. Admission is free on Mondays.