The Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band, one of the oldest continuous pipe bands in the U.S., was formed in 1921 by brothers Robert and James Sim. The Sim brothers came from a piping family in Aberdeen, Scotland where their father made bagpipes. Both served in World War I; Bob with the 4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and Jim, who enlisted at 13, with the Royal Engineers Pipe Band and later with the 51st Highland Division.

     After coming to Chicago, Bob Sim joined the Canadian Kilties Pipe Band, which has since gone out of existence. In 1921 Sim decided to form his own pipe band and after obtaining uniforms from ex-servicemen of the British Legion he and his brother organized the British Legion Pipe Band. The band’s first performance was the Decoration Day Parade in 1922 down Michigan Ave with four pipers, two sides, and a bass drummer.

         In 1925 the Chicago Stock Yard American Legion Post #333 was organized and was looking for a musical unit. The band became affiliated with the Stock Yard Post in 1926 and changed its name to The Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band. The band practiced at the old Boys & Girls Club at the stockyards and was the first bagpipe band in the history of the American Legion. During this time the band traveled with the Legion to Philadelphia, Louisville, Detroit, Davenport, as well as all over Illinois. Eventually the band made its home in the Stock Yard Inn where it was given a dedicated practice hall. The band performed often at the Inn and the International Amphitheater and led the Parade of Prize Winning Beef Cattle every year at the International Live Stock Exposition until the close of the Stockyards.
 

    In 1931 the SyKB had its first split. Some members broke off and formed a new band using the SyKB’s old name, The Chicago Highlanders, which is still in existence today. Although the band was registered as the Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band, the inventory records were never changed from Chicago Highlanders. Because of this a court ruling said that all parties could keep the uniforms issued to them. 

     In 1933 the SyKB performed at the Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago.  On May 19, 1934 the band lost all of its equipment in the Great Stock Yard Fire. The Legion bought the band new drums and the band raised funds for new uniforms. It was at this time that the band adopted the Buchanan tartan.

     Today the band continues the tradition which honors it's military heritage striving for excellence in the art of pipe and drum music. The Stock Yard Kilty Band has maintained quality level of play throughout history by continuously bringing new blood into the band.  Since 1975 Pipe Major Dave McKee has filled the band's ranks with his accomplished pipe and drum students. Dave has maintained the band’s tradition with his disciplined teaching style, a style now in the hands of Pipe Major Matt McKee.

     The Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band has over 84 years of piping history as a foundation.  Efforts over that time have had tremendous influence on the pipe band community in the Mid-West and across our great Nation.

Some important events in the SyKB’s history

• 1952 visit of Pipe Major William Ross and his prodigy, John Burgess

• A Tattoo and Piping Competition at the International Amphitheater organized by P/M Sim in 1954, in which nine bands from across the U.S. and Canada took part.

• The 1955 visit of the Regimental Band and Massed Pipers of the Scots Guards & Highland Dancers for whom the SyKB hosted a party.

• August 17, 1956 the SyKB played for the Democratic National Convention

• October 9, 1958 the band played at half time during the Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers Game.

• July 7, 1959 the band was honored to play on Michigan Ave for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

• Requiring a larger location for practice, the band becomes affiliated with the Evergreen Park American Legion Post around 1980 while still practicing at Madonna once a month.

• Spring 1980 - Dave McKee is featured on the television series REAL PEOPLE for teaching bagpipes in his Southside Chicago home.

• April 1996 the band holds it's first Spring Ball in years to celebrate it's 75th anniversary

• August 17, 1996 the band competes at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland

  Address: Exchange Ave. at Peoria St.
  Year Built: circa 1875
  Architect: Burnham and Root
  Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: February 24, 1972

At one time sprawling over 475 acres, the Union Stock Yards thrived for a century, until its closing in 1971. This rugged limestone gate, which marked the entrance to the stockyards, survives as one of the few visual reminders of Chicago's past supremacy in the livestock and meatpacking industries. The limestone steer head over the central arch is traditionally thought to represent "Sherman," a prize-winning bull named after John B. Sherman, one of the founders of the Union Stock Yard and Transit Company. Through the arch once passed the people and livestock that made Chicago the "hog butcher to the world".

This is also the site of a Sculpture honoring 21 firefighters and officers who died in the 1910 Stockyards blaze.