Chicago rat hole
{{short description|Rat-shaped hole in a Chicago sidewalk}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox monument
| name = Chicago rat hole
| native_name =
| image = File:Original Photo of the Chicago Rat Hole from WinslowDumaine Tweet.jpg
| caption = The hole, as pictured in Dumaine's original tweet
| location = Near 1918 West Roscoe Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| designer =
| type = Hole
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| restore =
| dismantled =
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| coordinates = {{Coord|41.943321|N|87.676881|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| website =
| extra_label = Removed
| extra = {{start date|2024|04|24}}
}}
The Chicago rat hole was a hole shaped like a rat in the sidewalk of West Roscoe Street in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. After several decades, it received widespread attention on social media (mainly Twitter) in early 2024, attracting tourists to the site. City officials removed the sidewalk slab containing the hole several months later, and it is currently stored in City Hall.
An apparent example of accidental lifecasting, the hole was described by The New York Times as "Chicago's Stonehenge".{{cite web |last1=Deb |first1=Sopan |title=Someone Filled the Chicago Rat Hole. Residents Took Action. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/us/chicago-rat-hole.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=20 January 2024 |date=19 January 2024 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240119231926/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/us/chicago-rat-hole.html |archive-date=19 January 2024 |url-status=live}} Some neighbors and wildlife experts speculate the impression was made by a squirrel rather than a rat.
History
{{Tweet
| name=Gatorade Should Be Thicker.
| username=WinslowDumaine
| text=Had to make a pilgrimage to the Chicago Rat Hole
| date=January 6, 2024
| ID=1743726195764609367
}}
The hole gained worldwide attention on January 6, 2024, via a tweet by Chicago-based comedian and writer Winslow Dumaine.{{ cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/13/us/chicago-rat-hole.html |title=Chicago's Latest Attraction? A Rat-Shaped Hole. |first=Emily |last=Schmall |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 19, 2024 |url-access=subscription |date=January 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117012211/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/13/us/chicago-rat-hole.html |archive-date=January 17, 2024 |url-status=live }}{{ Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/01/13/chicago-rat-hole/ |url-access=subscription |title=Chicago has a new tourist destination: The 'Rat Hole' |first=Jonathan |last=Edwards |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 13, 2024 |access-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240113142323/https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/01/13/chicago-rat-hole/ |archive-date=January 13, 2024 |url-status=live}} In what has been described as a "pilgrimage", many Chicago residents visited the hole and offerings to it, such as coins, flowers, candles, cheese, cigarettes, alcohol, children's toys, food, and estradiol pills.{{cite AV media | title=Rat impression in sidewalk has the internet talking | url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2024/01/17/chicago-rat-hole-moos-cprog-orig-bdk.cnn | people=Moos, Jeanne | type=News report | publisher=CNN | location=New York City | date=January 17, 2024 | access-date=January 19, 2024 | archive-date=January 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119005731/https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2024/01/17/chicago-rat-hole-moos-cprog-orig-bdk.cnn | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |first=Alexandria |last=Fisher |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Cheese and cigarettes: People are setting up shrines at the Chicago rat hole |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cheese-and-cigarettes-people-are-setting-up-shrines-at-the-chicago-rat-hole/3330371/ |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118224517/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cheese-and-cigarettes-people-are-setting-up-shrines-at-the-chicago-rat-hole/3330371/ |url-status=live }} One group of visitors took shots of Chicago specialty Malört beside the hole, before leaving the bottle as an oblation.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Violet |date=January 19, 2024 |title='Chicago rat hole' restored by neighbors after it's mysteriously filled in: 'Chicago takes care of its own' |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/1/19/24044534/chicago-rat-hole-roscoe-village-filled-in-restore-lil-stucky |access-date=January 19, 2024 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119232225/https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/1/19/24044534/chicago-rat-hole-roscoe-village-filled-in-restore-lil-stucky |url-status=live }} The Riot Fest Historical Society also dedicated a plaque at the site of the hole.{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Alex V. |date=2024-01-19 |title=Someone Tried To Fill In Chicago's Rat Hole — But Neighbors Brought It Back To Life |url=http://blockclubchicago.org/2024/01/19/chicagos-rat-hole-lives-after-neighbors-rescue-it/ |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en-US |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119225522/https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/01/19/chicagos-rat-hole-lives-after-neighbors-rescue-it/ |url-status=live }}
Despite its newfound attention in 2024, the hole had existed for at least 20 to 30 years, according to locals.{{cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/1/10/24033474/rat-hole-roscoe-village-viral-social-media |title=Going down the 'rat hole?' Viral phenomenon is actually decades-old squirrel imprint beloved by the block, neighbors say |first=Kaitlin |last=Washburn |website=Chicago Sun-Times |date=January 10, 2024 |access-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118014451/https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/1/10/24033474/rat-hole-roscoe-village-viral-social-media |url-status=live }} A local softball team has been using the rat as its unofficial mascot since around 2018.{{cite web | url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-and-culture/2024/1/20/24044422/rat-hole-figure-longtime-mascot-for-chicago-softball-team | title=Chicago 'rat hole' figure is the longtime mascot for local softball team | first=Mitch | last=Dudek | website=Chicago Sun-Times | date=January 20, 2024 | access-date=January 21, 2024 | archive-date=January 21, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121013808/https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-and-culture/2024/1/20/24044422/rat-hole-figure-longtime-mascot-for-chicago-softball-team | url-status=live }}
The hole's notoriety reached political and business channels. Ann Williams, the state representative for Illinois's 11th district, posted an online video promoting the hole, calling it "the jewel of the 11th district". The Chamber of Commerce for Lakeview and Roscoe Village ran a naming contest for the hole,{{cite web |date=January 12, 2024 |title=It's time to make it an official attraction: Name the Chicago Rat Hole! |url=https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/name-the-chicago-rat-hole |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118014451/https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/name-the-chicago-rat-hole |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=January 19, 2024 |website=Fox 32 Chicago}} with "Splatatouille"{{thinsp}}—{{thinsp}}a reference to the film Ratatouille{{thinsp}}—{{thinsp}}beating the other four finalists ("Lil' Stucky", "Splat", "Roscoe Road-dent" and "Dibs").{{cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Alex V. |date=January 19, 2024 |title=Someone Tried To Fill In Chicago's Rat Hole — But Neighbors Brought It Back To Life |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/01/19/chicagos-rat-hole-lives-after-neighbors-rescue-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119214835/https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/01/19/chicagos-rat-hole-lives-after-neighbors-rescue-it/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |access-date=January 19, 2024 |website=Block Club Chicago}}{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Noel |last2=Harrington |first2=Adam |date=23 January 2024 |title=Neighbors have had it with people flocking to the Chicago 'rat hole' - CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/neighbors-have-had-it-people-flocking-chicago-rat-hole/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124161420/https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/neighbors-have-had-it-people-flocking-chicago-rat-hole/ |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |access-date=24 January 2024 |website=CBS News}}
The hole was filled in with plaster or cement by an unknown party on January 19, 2024. City officials later confirmed they had not filled in the hole.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-20 |title=Dirty rat! Culprit fills in Chicago neighborhood landmark known as the 'rat hole' |url=https://apnews.com/article/rat-hole-chicago-neighborhood-cdee2db46e2278a9714ddd079d01c617 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120232837/https://apnews.com/article/rat-hole-chicago-neighborhood-cdee2db46e2278a9714ddd079d01c617 |url-status=live }} Ann Williams posted a video stating "we are shocked and saddened" by the news, and "are closely monitoring the developing situation". Local residents attempted to excavate the hole, using their hands and implements such as ice scrapers and license plates.{{Cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Alexandria |last2=Shapiro |first2=Alex |last3=Swidler |first3=Francie |date=January 19, 2024 |title=The Chicago 'rat hole' is no longer a hole — it appears to have been filled in |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/the-chicago-rat-hole-is-no-longer-a-hole-it-appears-to-have-been-filled-in/3332440/ |access-date=January 19, 2024 |work=NBC Chicago |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119181830/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/the-chicago-rat-hole-is-no-longer-a-hole-it-appears-to-have-been-filled-in/3332440/ |url-status=live }} Eventually, a woman cleaned out the hole and restored it to its original condition.{{cite tweet|author=Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere |user=TylerLaRiviere |number=1748444338852401650 |date=January 19, 2024 |title=A woman who didn't want to be identified due to possible "ratribution" (her words not mine) cleans the iconic Chicago Rat Hole of a plaster type substance in the 1900 block of W. Roscoe St. in the Roscoe Village neighborhood, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240119204732/https://twitter.com/TylerLaRiviere/status/1748444338852401650 |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=January 19, 2024 }}
Following the restoration, Williams wrote "This is what community is all about." Shortly afterwards, an engagement and a marriage ceremony took place at the hole.{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Lloyd |title=Chicago's 'rat hole' was mysteriously filled and then restored. Now it's a place of holy rat-rimony. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/viral-chicago-rat-hole-restored-west-roscoe-proposal-wedding-tributes-2024-1 |access-date=21 January 2024 |website=Business Insider |publisher= |archive-date=January 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121173611/https://www.businessinsider.com/viral-chicago-rat-hole-restored-west-roscoe-proposal-wedding-tributes-2024-1 |url-status=live }} Some residents of West Roscoe Street expressed frustration with the hole's newfound viral status, with some locals citing public nuisance, vandalism, and accumulation of garbage on the sidewalk.
On April 24, 2024, the Chicago Department of Transportation removed the sidewalk slab containing the hole while keeping it intact; {{cite web |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Marisa |title='Chicago Rat Hole' has been removed by city |url=https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/chicago-rat-hole-has-been-removed-by-city/ |website=WGN-TV |access-date=24 April 2024 |date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=April 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424173302/https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/chicago-rat-hole-has-been-removed-by-city/ |url-status=live }} the slab as of January 2025 is stored in City Hall, pending a proper place to display the slab.{{cite web |last1=Filbin |first1=Patrick |title=Chicago's Rat Hole, 1 Year Later: Where Is It Now? |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/10/chicagos-rat-hole-1-year-later-where-is-it-now/ |website=Block Club Chicago |access-date=11 May 2025 |date=10 January 2025}} A "Rathole Music Fest" was held at a venue under three miles south of the site in June, featuring local bands as well as burlesque and poetry performances.{{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Adam |date=2024-06-29 |title=Chicago rat hole memorialized with music fest - CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-rat-hole-memorialized-with-music-fest/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}
Debate over origin
Despite the hole's popular name, some locals believe it was formed by a squirrel. The director of Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife Institute, Seth Magle, told NBC Chicago that he believed it likely that a squirrel fell on the wet concrete from a tree. Magle also clarified that the thinness of the tail cavity, used by some to argue in favor of it being a rat hole, should not be considered, given that fur does not always leave impressions.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/zoo-expert-reveals-3-reasons-why-chicagos-rat-hole-might-not-be-a-rat/3329043/ |title=Zoo expert reveals 3 reasons why Chicago's 'rat hole' might not be a rat |website=NBC Chicago |date=January 16, 2024 |access-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118014451/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/zoo-expert-reveals-3-reasons-why-chicagos-rat-hole-might-not-be-a-rat/3329043/ |url-status=live }} Supporting this theory, one resident stated that an oak tree had existed above that section of the sidewalk that had since been cut down.
Similar phenomena
The rat hole has also brought attention to other object-shaped sidewalk holes, such as a gun-shaped hole in Richmond, Virginia, that was similarly enshrined by locals.{{cite web |last1=Moreno |first1=Sabrina |date=30 January 2024 |title=Chicago rat hole is out. Richmond gun hole is in. |url=https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/01/30/richmond-gun-hole-viral |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130151719/https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/01/30/richmond-gun-hole-viral |archive-date=January 30, 2024 |access-date=30 January 2024 |website=Axios}}
For several days in September 2024, a purse filled with Lucky Charms was seen hanging from a sign for Addison Street in Chicago and received similar visits from Chicagoans.{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Elyssa |last2=Tyson |first2=Blake |date=2024-09-11 |title="Magically suspicious" purse filled with Lucky Charms on Chicago's Northwest Side goes viral |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-lucky-charms-purse-avondale/ |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}
Gallery
{{gallery
| align = center
| mode = nolines
| whitebg = no
| File:Chicago Rat Hole with first penny.jpg
| The hole on January 7, 2024, shortly after the photographer placed the first penny
| File:Chicago Rat Hole Estrogen.jpg
| The hole on January 13, filled with coins and a bag of estradiol pills
| File:Filled in Chicago Rat Hole.jpg
| The hole on January 19, shortly after it had been filled in
| File:Vial of Estradiol at the Chicago Rat Hole Memorial.jpg
| Following the online popularity of the estradiol pills gifted on January 13, a vial of injectable estradiol was placed on the shrine on January 19.
| File:Chicago rat hole memorial sign.jpg
| Signage put up by locals on January 19, asking visitors not to leave food and to keep noise to a minimum
| File:Chicago Rat Hole with Offerings.png
| The hole on February 18, surrounded by gifts from visitors including flowers, coins, glasses, and Pokémon cards
||
}}
See also
- {{annotated link|Our Lady of the Underpass}}
- {{annotated link|Petrosomatoglyph}}
- {{annotated link|Pinto Bean (squirrel)}}
- {{annotated link|Pizza Rat}}
- {{annotated link|Pothole}}
- {{annotated link|Trace fossil}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Chicago rat hole}}
- [https://flickr.com/photos/menina/415995837/ Chicago Rat Hole as seen on March 4, 2007] (on Flickr)
{{Chicago|state=collapsed}}
Category:Internet memes introduced in 2024
Category:Tourist attractions in Chicago
Category:Vandalized works of art in Illinois
Category:Visual arts by animals