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Chicago’s City Gallery is located in one of Chicago’s most famous landmarks, the historic Water Tower. The City Gallery is Chicago’s official photography gallery and features exhibits of Chicago-themed photographs taken by Chicago photographers. Visitors, as well as residents, are sure to enjoy the local art on display. The Water Tower is located at 806 North Michigan Avenue. For more details call (312) 744-2400.
Located in downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park provides visitors with nearly 25 acres of art, music, architecture, and landscape design. Formerly parking lots and railroad tracks, the new park has an outdoor concert venue, theaters, beautiful landscape, recreational activities, walking tours, and much . Cloud Gate is a 110-ton elliptical sculpture that measures 66' by 33' and a must see for all park guests.
Among the oldest zoos in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo was established in 1868. The zoo covers 35 acres and is home to 1,100 mammals, reptiles, and birds. Beautiful, historic architecture, state-of-the-art facilities, and free admission are all reasons why Lincoln Park Zoo accommodates nearly three million visitors annually. Lincoln Park Zoo is located at 2001 North Clark Street. Call (312) 742-2000 for additional information about the zoo.
Field Museum was established in September 1893 as the Columbian Museum of Chicago. In 1905, the museum’s name changed to Field Museum of Natural History in honor of benefactor, Marshall Field. More than 20 million items are included in the museum’s collections and cover subjects such as anthropology, biology, geology, and zoology. As an educational institution, Field Museum offers exhibits about nature, plants, animals, fossils, ecosystems, and much more. Field Museum is located at 1400 South Lake Shore Drive. For more information call (312) 922-9410.
The Chicago Cultural Center is an official Chicago Visitor Information Center. The building was completed in 1897 and served as Chicago’s main library. This beaux-arts style building underwent a renovation in 1977, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Chicago Landmark. The Cultural Center became the nation’s first free municipal cultural center in 1991 and offers more than 1,000 programs annually. Visitors are treated to free art exhibits and programs. Performing, visual, and literary arts occupy eight exhibit spaces, two concert halls, and two theaters. The visitor information center also has the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome. Visit the Chicago Cultural Center at 78 East Washington. Call (312) 744-6630 for more detailed information.
Chicago’s Adler Planetarium offers visitors more than 35,000 square feet of exhibits. Learn about our solar system, the Milky Way, and much more. Adler Planetarium has two full-size planetarium theaters, scale models of the solar system, more than 2,000 ancient astronomy instruments, rare books, and much more. The planetarium is located at 1300 South Lake Shore Drive. Call (312) 922-7827 for more details.
The Shedd Aquarium opened on December 19, 1929, as the world’s largest aquarium, a gift to the city of Chicago from John Shedd. Today, this state-of-the-art facility is home to more than 7,000 fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates. Shedd Aquarium has two million visitors annually who come to see exhibits about the Caribbean Reef, the Amazon River, marine mammals, animal encounters, and much more. The aquarium is located on Lake Michigan at 1200 South Lake Shore Drive. Call (312) 939-2438 for more information.
Navy Pier receives eight million visitors annually, making it Chicago’s most visited attraction. The pier was opened to the public in 1916 as a 1.5 mile long recreational pier that served as a family entertainment center. This 50-acre lakefront playground is a remarkable landmark and was revitalized in the 1990's. Attractions include a 180-ft Ferris wheel, musical carousel, miniature golf, museums, theaters, boat tours, shopping, and good eats. Call (312) 595-7437 for additional information.
There are more than 250 designated landmarks in Chicago with nearly 40 landmark districts. In order to receive landmark status by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, properties must meet portions of the following criteria: critical to Chicago’s heritage, site of significant event, associated with significant person, important architecture or architect, and must have a high degree of architectural integrity. The Chicago Landmark website provides maps, an alpha listing, more than 20 tours, information on 12 world-famous architects, an architectural style guide, and general information. Visit the Chicago Landmarks website for more information.
Founded in 1982, the Chicago
Childrens Museum is located on Chicago’s Navy Pier.
The 57,000-square-feet facility receives more than half a million visitors
annually. Visitors are treated to 15 permanent exhibits with many interactive,
hands-on exhibits. Children and adults learn about dinosaurs, art, inventing,
aviation, and much more. For more details call (312) 527-1000.
The Museum of Science &
Industry opened in 1933 and was the first science museum
to have hands-on, interactive exhibits. There are more than 800 exhibits
at Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry, making it the United
State’s largest science museum housed in a single building. Exhibits
include a German submarine, the Apollo 8 spacecraft, a 3500-square-foot
model railroad, and much more. Two million visitors annually and numerous
awards validate this museum as a top notch attraction. It is located at
57th and Lake Shore Drive. Call (773) 684-1414 for more information.
Completed in 1973, the Sears Tower was the world’s tallest building, measuring 1,454 feet tall. Although taller structures have been constructed in other countries, the Sears Tower remains the tallest building in the United States. Visitors enjoy a 50-mile view from the sky deck located on the 103rd floor. On a clear day Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin are visible and telescopes are available for enhanced views. The sky deck also offers exhibits on Chicago history and Chicago landmarks. The Sears Tower is located at 233 South Wacker. For more detailed information call (312) 875-9696.
Constructed in 1869, the Chicago Water Tower is one of a few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Its survival is due to the fact that is was constructed of dolomitic limestone blocks quarried in Joliet, Illinois. The Water Tower was originally built to house a 138-ft standpipe and looks like a Medieval fortress with its Gothic Revival style. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Chicago Water Tower is also the first American Water Landmark in the United States. Visitors can view this impressive structure at the corner of Michigan and Chicago Avenues.
The Art Institute of Chicago was established in 1879 as a museum and school. This museum’s collection covers more than 5,000 years of world cultures, making it one of the world’s greatest art collections. Collections include African, American, Asian, Contemporary Art, European, and much more. The Art Institute of Chicago is located at 111 South Michigan Avenue. For more details call (312) 443-3600.
Completed in 1887, Glessner House Museum is the only surviving Henry Hobson Richardson building in the Midwest. The house was restored in the late 1960's and became a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The museum has more than 6,000 artifacts such as original Glessner Family belongings, vintage furniture, and 19th century art. Glessner House is located at 1800 South Prairie Avenue. Call (312) 326-1480 for more information.
Chicago’s oldest house, Clarke House Museum, is
a Greek Revival built in 1836. The home was originally built on a 20-acre
farmstead before the growing prairie town of Chicago expanded. The Clarke
Family was able to sell off parts of their acreage to fund the completion
of the home. In 1977 the city of Chicago purchased the Clarke home, refurbished
it, and opened it up to the public. Visitors can tour Clarke House to
see how a middle class family in the 1850's might have lived. Visit Clarke
House Museum at 1827 South Indiana or call (312) 326-1480 for more information.