Fun Facts About Chicago’s Most Iconic Landmark Destinations

Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute is a prime destination for art lovers visiting and living in the city. It was founded in 1879, 7 years after the fire and moved to its current location in the heart of the city in 1893. It offers a vast collection of art including cityscapes, impressionist pieces, pop culture exhibits, fashion showcases, and more. The facility has its share of unique items and details, but the two bronze lions that flank the entrance may be its most iconic features. Weighing more than 2 tons each, they are said to have their own attitude. The South Lion stands in defiance while the North Lion is on the prowl. They are often dressed in celebratory attire.

The Chicago Riverwalk

The Chicago Riverwalk spans 1.25 miles. Constructed in phases over time, it consists of four districts: the Confluence, the Arcade, the Civic, and the Esplanade. Open from 6AM to 11 PM daily, it offers river views, boating activities, walking tours, restaurants, bars, and a nightly Art on the Mart event. It is also the sight of one of the most invigorating forms of public transportation. You can take its water taxi to any Chicago neighborhoods along the river. The One Station is located at the Riverwalk at Clark and Lasalle and operates from spring until fall.

Dusable Bridge

The Dusable Bridge s is one of the most fascinating Chicago landmarks. Formerly known as the Michigan Bridge, it is located where Michigan Ave. crosses the Chicago River. It was built in 1920 and was part of what made Michigan Ave the upscale stretch it is today. The bridge it known for its innovative construction. It opens to allow boats to pass underneath using counterweights that rotate around large, fixed axles called trunnions. Its ‘Trunnion Bascule’ style has earned it the nickname “The Chicago Style Bascule Bridge”. The Dusable is also notable because it makes full use of two highways, a lower highway that carries non-commercial fast-moving vehicles, and a lower highway for slower commercial traffic. Its four bridge houses serve as canvases for sculptures depicting important moments in Chicago history.

The Bean

Officially known as Cloud Gate, the Bean is one of Chicago’s most iconic sights. It was unveiled in 2004. It sits in Millennium Park in Chicago’s downtown Loop area. The Bean’s reflective surface allows it to capture the people in the park, the sights of Michigan Ave., and the famous Chicago skyline. People can also walk underneath it to enter the park. Though inspired by liquid mercury, The Bean is actually made of stainless steel. Computer technology was used to cut 168 massive steel plates precisely. They were then fitted together to provide a seamless finish. Metal rings make up the frame giving it its ‘bean-like’ shape. The Bean is 33 feet, high, 42 feet wide, 66 feet long, and weighs about 110 tons. It has been updated with AI so it can show you around the city.

The Robie House

The Robie was built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1910 for successful Chicago businessman Frederick C. Robie. It is considered to be his best ‘prairie style’ work.

As with most prairie homes, Robie House is short and wide. It is characterized by banded windows, and a spacious floor plan that provides spectacular views. It is made with simple materials such as brick, wood, and stucco.

The home primarily consists of two long and narrow vessels making it resemble the hull of a ship. It is made from red Roman brick and was one of the first homes to incorporate steel beams into its design. The beams are necessary in creating cantilevered balconies which appear to be suspended in mid-air.

The home passed through several owners and was once used to house students at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Eventually, the Seminary decided to demolish the building and build a larger dormitory. Wright, who was 90 at the time, came to the home to draw attention to the need to save it.

William Zeckendorf eventually stopped the demolition. He bought the house from the Seminary and donated it to the University of Chicago. It was the first building to be declared a Chicago landmark and the first in Chicago to be named a United States Registered National Historic Landmark based solely on its architectural merit.