Navy Pier

Originally opened in 1916 as Municipal Pier, this landmark was a key part of Daniel Burnham's 'Plan of Chicago.' Designed by architect Charles Sumner Frost, it was unique for its dual purpose as a commercial shipping facility and a public space for recreation. Its massive size and strategic location on Lake Michigan made it an immediate architectural icon of the city's industrial and social progress. In 1927, the pier was renamed Navy Pier to honor the veterans of World War I. During the Second World War, the pier transitioned into a vital military training center, housing thousands of Navy personnel and serving as a base for technical schools. After the war, it served as a temporary campus for the University of Illinois at Chicago, earning it the nickname 'Harvard on the Rocks' before falling into a period of underutilization and decay. The pier underwent a massive redevelopment in the early 1990s, which reimagined the space as a premier tourist destination and cultural hub. Today, it is one of the most visited attractions in the Midwest, featuring the iconic Centennial Wheel, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the Chicago Children's Museum. It stands as a testament to Chicago's ability to reinvent its historic spaces for modern generations while maintaining a connection to its maritime past.