First planned in 1997 to create new parkland in Grant Park & transform unsightly railroad tracks & parking lots, the Park has evolved into one of the most significant millennium projects in the world.
Est. in 1868, the zoo is among the oldest & most modern zoological gardens in the country. Its intimate setting enables guests to experience the thrill of getting up close to different animals.
The first Ferris wheel made its debut in Chicago at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Today, Navy Pier is home to a 15-story Ferris wheel, modeled after the original one. Read more.
The Chicago White Sox abandoned their longtime home at Comiskey Park for this new facility in 1991. The White Sox won the 2005 World Series, the first two games of which were played here.
"Some say that $14 Angus Beef Burger is overpriced, but I say that you've got to dish out the big bucks if you want the 47th best burger in Chicago." - Conan O'Brien
Located on the 94th floor of the building 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile, it's the city's only open-air skywalk. Here you'll see an incredible 360-degree view of Chicago, WI, IN & parts of IL.
The Chicago Picasso, a gift from the artist to the people of Chicago, has become a beloved icon of the city and a source of civic pride.
The Art Institute of Chicago has one of the largest and most extensive collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the world. Read more.
Superman could test whether he is indeed "more powerful than a locamotive" on one of Union Station's 24 tracks, which the METRA electric suburban train system and Amtrak.
In "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986), Matthew Broderick and friends cut school to visit the Skydeck, pressing their foreheads against the glass to get a good look down. Read more.
Did you know? A piece of the Berlin wall is one of the many special stones embedded in the wall of the Tribune Tower. Head to the Western Brown Line 'L' stop to see another Berlin Wall monument. Read more.
Barbie and I once had a staring contest through our reflections at The Bean. We lasted a whole 30 seconds until she stepped on my toe and made me blink. Cheater!
I'll never forget how the Buckingham Fountain lights lit up Barbie's face as we tossed our coins and made a wish. I'm still hoping my wish comes true.
"The Willis Tower used to be known as The Sears Tower. They changed the name after people kept showing up in the lobby trying to buy washing machine and ratchet sets." - Conan O'Brien
One of the nation's largest facilities devoted to the art of our time the Museum offers exhibitions of art created since 1945. It boasts a terraced sculpture garden with a great view of Lake Michigan.
Completed in 1897 it was dedicated as the city's original Chicago Public Library. This monument was inspired by the neo-classical style of the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893.
The Museum’s permanent exhibition, Chicago: Crossroads of America, explores the city’s economy, crises, innovation, neighborhoods & entertainment. Features include Abraham Lincoln’s death bed.
It's the world's largest indoor aquarium with over 8,000 aquatic animals representing over 700 species. The Marine Mammal Presentation features staff interacting with whales & dolphins as they dive.
This Planetarium was founded in 1930 by Max Adler, who was so impressed by a European machine replicating the night sky that he decided to build one.
Opening in 1924, it has played host to Army-Navy & Notre Dame-USC football; the Chicago Bears moved here in 1971. The field has been featured in films, including Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers.
In addition to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Hall features jazz, pop, chamber & world music concerts. The Hall was initially conceived in the early 1900's & underwent renovation in 1997.
The University boasts 85 Nobel Prize winners. Mingle with current & future prize winners at Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap (1172 E. 55th St.) or one of the Hyde Park's many coffee shops and bookstores. Read more.
Pete Wentz loves hanging out at festivals in the park. “It’s different from L.A.—no one cares who I am. Sometimes people say hi, but it doesn’t have the blood-in-the-water vibe to it.”
In "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986), Cameron and Sloan are seen standing in front of Alexander Calder's Flamingo sculpture. Read more.
Before it became apart of the Roosevelt University campus in 1947, the Auditorium Hotel was site of the 1904 fraternity Chicago convention.
One of the first prominent hotels constructed after the fire of 1871, the Grand Pacific Hotel was the site where Standard Time was adopted in 1883 and the site of the fraternity convention in 1890.
Before becoming the Chicago Hilton in 1951, the Stevens Hotel was site of the fraternity's 1933 convention. That year, Chicago also hosted the World's Fair, chaired by fraternity alumnus Rufus Dawes.
This is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere. The Henry Crown Space Center features rockets, shuttles, satellites, rovers and probes. You can even see the actual Apollo 8 spacecraft! Read more.
The museum was incorporated in 1893 as the Columbian Museum of Chicago, but the name was changed in 1905 to Field Museum of Natural History to better reflect its focus on the natural sciences.
