Photo by Christopher Alvarenga
A trip to Chicago is a must for lovers of museums, art galleries, and architecture. So to inspire you on your next trip to see the arts and culture in Chicago, here are our top 7 must-see attractions.
Chicago Riverwalk
To truly appreciate this first attraction, you need to first see it from the water’s edge. Evening architecture tours by boat are becoming quite the thing here, with art displays that are visible from the riverwalk.
Located on the banks of the Chicago River, from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Street, the Chicago Riverwalk is a multi-purpose public space.
Explore the Riverwalk’s four zones: The Confluence, The Arcade, The Civic, and the Esplanade. You’ll enjoy access to the Chicago Architecture Center, various museums, and Chicago’s urban waterways.
Fortunately, boat rentals in Chicago are affordable and easy to arrange online ahead of your trip. So you can do your very own art and culture boat tour.
Photo by Benjamin Rascoe
Chicago Cultural Center
Most of the best attractions can be found downtown, in The Loop. And the Chicago Cultural Center should be your first stop.
This Chicago Landmark Building first opened its doors as the central library building in 1897. It was converted into an art and culture center in 1977. The Mayor of Chicago has welcomed several presidents, royal figures, and diplomats to the city, here.
Look out for the stunning Tiffany stained glass dome!
Palmer House Hilton Hotel
The Palmer House Hilton is one of the US’s most historic hotels. Perched in the heart of the downtown Chicago theater district for more than 150 years, it is a true Chicago icon.
Many ‘firsts’ were obtained here. This was the first hotel in the city to offer guests electric light bulbs and telephones in their rooms. It also boasted the first elevators.
Still in use today, this hotel is a popular attraction for visitors to Chicago. A walk through the exquisite lobby will take you back in time to when famous writers, actors, and presidential hopefuls walked its corridors.
Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde were just two of its more memorable guests.
Museum Of Contemporary Art
The Chicago Museum Of Contemporary Art, also in downtown Chicago, is home to thousands of examples of Post-World War II visual art.
More like an art gallery than a museum, it hosts several curated art exhibitions throughout the year. Formerly located in a much smaller space on East Ontario Street, it now stands proudly on East Chicago Avenue.
But great works of art are not all that you’ll discover here. Dance and theater productions, as well as the odd music concert, are also held here.
If you visit in the summertime, you may just catch a free outdoor jazz concert on the grounds.
Photo by Lokesh Masania
The Rookery Building
You’ll find this historic office building on La salle Street in the Chicago Loop. With its Roman Revival and Queen Anne-style facade, this is the oldest standing high-rise structure in the city.
Now a Chicago landmark, it is named after the building that stood there before its construction. This earlier building, erected after the Great Chicago Fire that destroyed much of the city, attracted many crows and pigeons. And so the name - ‘The Rookery’ was born.
Today, the Rookery Building attracts more tourists than birds, with daily walking tours of its interior. It is also the star of bi-monthly tours held by the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
Photo by Dulcey Lima
Hyde Park Art Center
The Hyde Park Art Center (HPAC) is a contemporary art center offering engaging exhibitions. It is also the oldest alternative exhibition space in Chicago.
This nonprofit organization has not always been housed at its current location on Hyde Park Boulevard. It has had several homes over the years since its inception in 1939 as the ‘Fifth Ward Art Center of Chicago’.
But despite the name change in 1940 and the numerous location changes, one thing has never changed. It has always been dedicated to the support and nurturing of the visual arts.
‘The Chicago Bean’
You can’t visit Chicago without taking a moment to appreciate the Cloud Gate sculpture, more affectionately known to locals as The Bean.
Unveiled at the opening of Chicago's Millennium Park in 2004, this is now the most photographed attraction in the entire city.
Constructed entirely from stainless steel, this unusual art project was the brainchild of Indian-born British artist and sculptor Anish Kapoor.
A truly interactive experience, the ‘Bean’ reflects and distorts the Chicago Skyline to give you a unique perspective on downtown Chicago. Stop by and check out your own quirky reflection, and pose for a memorable selfie.
Photo by Muzammil Soorma
Jean Dubreil