Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Postcards from Chicago – Highlights of an Architecture Tour
Greetings from the Windy City!
I meant only to send a few postcards, but as often happens, I found I had a lot to say about them!
First of all, did you know that Chicago is home to the world’s first skyscraper? Well now you do!
So no trip to Chicago is complete without an Architecture Tour, and we’ll start by heading up the Chicago River from Lake Michigan.
There are many notable and historic buildings that line the river but I’ll only share a few of my favorites, starting with the tall, wavy building on the left, the St. Regis Chicago.
Isn’t she a beauty? At 101 stories, it’s the world’s tallest building designed by a woman, architect, Jeanne Gang. It’s also the third tallest building in Chicago. Though it only opened recently, I can’t imagine the river entrance without it.
Here’s a view from the other side.
Next is the Wrigley Building built in 1924. William Wrigley Jr, you may recall, was famous for his chewing gum. Back in the day, he had the market with his spearmint, doublemint and juicyfruit gum. His name is also affixed to one of the country’s oldest and most iconic baseball stadiums, Wrigley Field.
Across the street is the Tribune Tower, an iconic gothic structure, where Ann Landers finished her career answering your questions (she took on the role of advice columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times in 1955.) I grew up reading Ann Landers in Seattle’s P.I, rather than her equally famous twin, Dear Abby, who dished out advice in the Seattle Times.
Next up is, dare I say it? Trump Tower, the second tallest building in town. Surprising isn’t it, that he would allow his name to be attached to anything ranked second? Still, it’s a fine looking building.
Next is the smaller but more sophisticated Carbon and Carbide Building, which I thought looked like a giant tube of lipstick.
Built in 1929, and according to our tour guide, resembles a Champagne bottle to protest Prohibition. The top is covered in a (very, very) thin sheet of 24 karat gold, the height of luxury and excess.
I’ve shown you the second and third tallest buildings in Chicago, now here’s #1, the Willis Tower. When built in 1973, the ‘Sears Tower’ as it was then called, was the tallest building in the world, at 110 stories, 1,451 ft. tall, and it remained the record holder for nearly 25 years. The one in the middle below, somewhat eclipsed in this picture by one I’ve forgotten the name of! Best seen from a distance as in the last photo of skyline.
That will do from the river, but I still have a few more pictures to show you. The Water Tower is one of the only structures remaing from before the great fire of 1871.
In fact, it was the fire that turned Chicago into a blank slate, for architects to build upon.
Next door is the Hancock Tower, the fifth tallest in the city and the only one I’ve been to the top of, on previous trips. The observation deck is on the 94th floor and the views are great.
Before I go, here’s another shot of the Skyline from the lakeshore, at the Shedd Aquarium, where the ‘Sears Tower’ dominates.
And that will conclude our tour!
At least for now.
– Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Chicago has plenty of beautiful architecture, I love the flying buttresses on the Tribune Tower, a design that goes back centuries. Our Trump tower is golden.
Yes, so many beautiful and iconic structures it was hard to pick just a few!
Great Job! I would love to spend a few hours on the Vegas Strip but the traffic and parking situation are so ridiculous.
The weather in Chicago looks like it’s cooperating with you, Susanne. Striking images of the array of buildings! Enjoy your time and your Memorial Day weekend!
Thanks so much, Terri! The weather’s been sunny and clear though on the cooler side which worked great! I hope to drop by Sunday Stills with some water features later this week!
Joining your brother in giving us a tour of Chicago. 🙂
I much prefer the 1920s buildings to the modern monoliths.
Nice photos, Susanne.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. Yes, indeed! We visited when he lived here and he showed us around. It’s a great town for tourists, very walkable. And the architecture is interesting to see, especially from the river. The old buildings are great but I liked the look of the new one too.
You are in my backyard! Love the photos – they all look very familiar. Any photos of Navy Pier?
Thanks so much! 😊 Do you live in Chicago? Such a fun town to visit! I took a lot of photos including Navy Pier. And museums. And Millennium Park. including the ‘bean.’ They may show up in a later post!
I have deep family roots in Chicago so I enjoyed seeing your tour. I haven’t been there since 1998, but have always enjoyed it. My great grandfather had just arrived there when the great fire broke out. Very scary time until his parents knew he was all right.
Glad you enjoyed the tour. And interesting family history!
Hi there Susanne-
What great pictures! I’ve never been to Chicago. For some reason it has just never happened.
This has really peaked my interest. I’ve never even considered that there might be architecture driven ways to tour a city. But of course there are!! The buildings look so good to view from the river. Thanks for adding another destination to our list!
Thanks so much for your comment! Chicago is known for its architecture and the river tour is one of the top attractions. Its actually a great city to visit, very walkable and lots to do! 😊
Thanks to your post, I’m adding Chicago to my bucket list of destinations.
Wonderful! I’ve been pleasantly surprised everytime I’ve visited! Such a fun, walkable town, with so much to see and do!
You have branched out into architecture photography – wonderful! Couple thoughts. Macy’s now occupies the old Marshall Field Company building (you may recall Frederick & Nelson in Seattle, a Marshall Field Company). But must opine that the Marshall Field Company building in Chicago was not particularly photogenic! Wrigley family also closely tied to Catalina Island, interesting (lengthy) history there. Including construction of the Catalina Casino – not a gambling emporium despite the name, but at one time the world’s largest circular ballroom. If you ever have a chance to photograph the Casino I hope you will do so, it’s breathtaking, especially the interior. Wrigleys also for a century were involved in Arabian horses and one of their horse ranches were on the island. I understand one of the branches of the family are still involved with Arabian horses but that’s now in Scottsdale.
I don’t know that I’m branching out into architecture. But I love taking pictures when I travel (or any time really,) and you can’t go to Chicago without noticing the wonderful skyscrapers adorning the city of their birthplace. Not sure I’ll get to Catalina Island, but if I do, I’ll be sure and visit the casino. 🙂
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