As part of the original incorporated city of Chicago in 1837 , Rush Street is one of the city 's oldest thoroughfares . Like Clark Street , parts of Rush Street roughly follow the path of an Indian trail called Green Bay trail ( later Green Bay Road ) that ran to Green Bay , Wisconsin . Early Rush Street was commonly agreed to be desirable place of residence , and hosted the first house designed by an architect in Chicago ( designed for the first Mayor of Chicago William Ogden by John M. Van Osdel ) . The house , bounded by Erie , Ontario , Rush and Cass ( now Wabash Avenue ) Streets , did not survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Rush Street (Chicago)