Two massive steel bridge houses sit at the north and south ends of the DuSable Bridge, their granite facades carved with relief sculptures depicting scenes from Chicago history. This double-deck bascule bridge spans the Chicago River,…
Magnificent Mile History Walk
Stroll along the northern stretch of Michigan Avenue to see the iconic skyscrapers, historic landmarks, and grand hotels that shaped Chicago's luxury shopping district. We will trace the city's growth from post-fire resilience to mid-century modern height.
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1. DuSable Bridge
2. The Wrigley Building
The Wrigley Building stands out in Chicago for its two towers connected by a pedestrian bridge, finished in gleaming white terra cotta that stays bright even on the grayest winter days. William Wrigley Junior, the chewing gum magnate,…
3. Tribune Tower
The Tribune Tower rises with a jagged crown of limestone flying buttresses modeled after the thirteenth century butter tower of the Rouen Cathedral in France. In nineteen twenty-two, the Chicago Tribune launched an international…
4. Warwick Allerton - Chicago
The Warwick Allerton stands out on Michigan Avenue for the Italian Renaissance tower topped by a distinctive, tiered crown that glows with neon lighting at night. When Robert Allerton commissioned the building in nineteen twenty-four, he…
5. Chicago Water Tower
The Chicago Water Tower stands out with its pale yellow Joliet limestone walls and pointed Gothic arches, appearing like a miniature castle dropped onto Michigan Avenue. Built in eighteen sixty-nine to house a massive standpipe for fire…
6. Fourth Presbyterian Church
The Fourth Presbyterian Church rises in rough-hewn grey limestone, featuring a sharp Gothic spire that cuts into the skyline above the dense shopping corridor of Michigan Avenue. Architect Ralph Adams Cram designed this structure in…
7. John Hancock Center
The John Hancock Center rises as a black, X-braced tower, tapering steadily from the ground to its roof. Engineers designed this massive diagonal steel exterior to hold the building up against the heavy winds off Lake Michigan, allowing…
8. The Drake
The Drake Hotel features a limestone facade topped by a distinct, green-tiled roof that rises above the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Walton Street. Built in nineteen twenty by the same architects who designed the Blackstone, it…