Hawthorne Works
Hawthorne Works was a giant Western Electric factory complex in Cicero, IL, less than a mile off the old road. It ran from 1905 to 1983 and at its peak employed some 45,000 people making telephone equipment and many other products. Studies of workers held there in the 1920s gave the world the term Hawthorne effect, and today a museum on Cermak Road in Cicero keeps its story alive.
What is Hawthorne Works?
The works were more than a string of factory buildings. Alongside the plants, the company provided community facilities for its workers on the grounds. Its name comes from Hawthorne, the original name of the place that became Cicero. The listing here is for a museum that keeps the story alive, and it is noted as wheelchair accessible.
History of Hawthorne Works
Western Electric opened the plant in 1905 and kept it running until 1983. Telephone equipment was its main product, turned out in huge quantities, but the workforce also built a wide range of consumer goods. At its busiest, the payroll reached about 45,000 people.
The site is best known for research into how workers and managers relate, carried out there during the 1920s. The Hawthorne effect, the idea that people change their behavior when they know they are being watched, takes its name from the plant.
Visiting Hawthorne Works: tips
Gas is about 0.3 mile away and food about 0.2 mile. Garfield Park and its conservatory are each about 2.8 miles away, and the Oak Park Conservatory is about 2.9 miles away.
Practical info
- Address
- 4629 W Cermak Rd, Cicero, IL 60804
- Phone
- +1 708-400-3690
- Hours
- Open 24 h
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Hawthorne Works
All diners on Route 66 →
On the map
Full mapHawthorne Works with the 6 closest stops and a place to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near Hawthorne Works
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