Located on the Chicago shoreline on lake Michigan, Navy pier is a 3300 ft long pier ( raised
structure), including bridge and building supports and walkways, supported by widely spread piles
or pillars. Opened in 1916, this famous landmark of Chicago, consist of 50-acre playground of
entertainment, museums, activities, restaurants, and shops and is a perfect place for family fun.
Daniel Burnham, the most famous Chicago city planner created the "Master Plan of Chicago" in
1909, which originally envisioned five piers .Only one was built however, and that one was placed at
the mouth of the Chicago River. Construction began in 1914 under the direction of the nationally
known architect Charles Sumner Frost. Completed in 1916, construction of the Pier costs $4.5 million.
1909, which originally envisioned five piers .Only one was built however, and that one was placed at
the mouth of the Chicago River. Construction began in 1914 under the direction of the nationally
known architect Charles Sumner Frost. Completed in 1916, construction of the Pier costs $4.5 million.
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely
within the United States. The Pier was originally designed as a shipping and recreational facility.
When the U.S. entered the World War I, the Pier housed several regiments of soldiers, Red
Cross and Home Defense units as well as a barracks for recruits.
within the United States. The Pier was originally designed as a shipping and recreational facility.
When the U.S. entered the World War I, the Pier housed several regiments of soldiers, Red
Cross and Home Defense units as well as a barracks for recruits.
In 1927 the Municipal Pier was officially named Navy Pier in honor of the Naval personnel that
served there during WWI. The Navy operated various training programs at Navy Pier throughout the
war. Those enrolled often became aviation machinist's mate, metal smiths and diesel engine
technicians. By the time training ceased in July 1946, some sixty thousand people—including sailors
from Great Britain, Canada, Brazil and Peru—were trained at Navy Pier.
The Navy moves out and the University of Illinois takes up residence, transforming the facility into a
two-year undergraduate branch campus that remains in existence until 1965. The Navy's main mess
hall becomes a giant library and was considered as "the largest reading room" in Illinois.
The Pier was widened by 100 feet with the construction of the South Dock. At its peak in 1964,
Navy Pier handled 250 overseas vessels annually and was one of the greatest inland ports in the
world. By 1989, the Authorities moved swiftly to redesign Navy Pier into one of the country's
most unique exposition and recreation facilities.
On May 1, 1893, the gates opened at the World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago
World’s Fair. The fair, ostensibly meant to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus
first voyage to the New World. The main attraction at the exhibit was a full scale replica of the
Battleship Indiana and a model for the soon to be finished Massachusetts and Oregon and it was to
be named the U.S.S. Illinois “docked” at the pier which was truly unique. The model was 348 feet
long and 69 feet 5 inches wide. After the fair, the South Park Commissioners planned to widen the
northern inlet to the lagoon and stated that the pier and ship had to be removed by May 1, 1896.
At some point the large brass bell that adorned the great brick battleship Illinois came into the
possession of Benjamin P. Cheney Jr and later it found place at Navy Pier. On one side of the Bell it
is inscribed as “U.S.S. ILLINOIS 1893” On the other is the inscription, “Presented to the U.S.
Battleship ‘ILLINOIS’ by Julia Arthur Cheney and Benjamin P. Cheney ‘To Thine Own Self Be True,
And It Must Follow As The Night The Day – Thou Canst Not Then Be False To Any Man’”.
An eight ton anchor from the warship named after the city of Chicago is displayed at the Navy pier.
The first USS Chicago was a part of the great White fleet and saw service from 1889-1928. The
second USS Chicago was commissioned in 1931 which was attacked by enemies in Guadalcanal
area and the third USS Chicago was commissioned in 1945 as a heavy cruiser. After world war II it
was converted to a guided missile cruiser and participated in Vietnam war. She was 671 ft long and
71 foot beam and displaced 177700 tons. It was decommissioned in 1980. The anchor is dedicated
as a memorial to each ship named Chicago and to thousands of men and women who served their
nation in maritime service.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier is a non-profit, professional theater company. The first
performance at CST was Eric Idle reading from his novel, The Road to Mars.Modeled after London's
Swan Theatre, it features an intimate 510-seat courtyard-style theater with unequaled views of the
lakefront, an English-style pub, a studio theater, a bookstore, a Teacher's Resource Center and an
English Garden . A second theater, the 200-seat black box "Upstairs" space, is devoted to smaller but
still-popular productions .CST has more than six hundred annual performances and performed 48
weeks of the year include its critically acclaimed Shakespeare series.
Outdoor attractions include a permanent 150-foot-high Ferris wheel, a musical carousel, an old-
fashioned swing ride and an 18-hole miniature golf course. The Ferris wheel ride gives a nice view of
great city and lake Michigan. It consist of 40 gondolas, each seating up to 6 passengers. Its 40
spokes, spanning a diameter of 140 feet (42.7 m), are illuminated in the evenings. The world record
for the longest Ferris wheel ride was set by Clinton Shepherd, the park operations manager, who
spent 48 hours, 8 minutes and 25 seconds riding the Pier's wheel over the weekend of May 18–19,
2013.It was modeled after the first Ferris wheel built for the 1893 World Columbian Exposition.
Dock Street runs the length of the Pier’s South Dock and is reserved for pedestrians, bicyclists and
joggers Near the Ferris Wheel is a 44ft high musical carousel with 36 hand-painted animals. Other
attractions are an eighteen-hole miniature golf course, a funhouse maze, a beer garden, a 40ft high
wave swinger and an IMAX Theater. In season, four performance areas feature entertainment
ranging from jugglers, mimes and stilt walkers to comedians, singers and musicians.
NPI’s mission to be a world-class public place that celebrates and showcases the vitality of Chicago
and provides for the enjoyment of Chicago-area residents and visitors year-round.
Major restaurants include Giordano’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Harry Caray’s Tavern ,Jimmy
Buffett’s Margaritaville Bar & Grill and Riva Crab House. Big City Chicken, Big Bowl Chinese
Express, Frankie’s Pizza by the Slice, Billy Goat Tavern, Haagen-Dazs®, America’s Dog, Auntie
Anne’s, Completely Nuts, Garrett Popcorn Shops, Greek Delight, Jamba Juice, McDonald’s Navy
Pier, Ryba’s Fudge Shop, Starbucks and the Mexican Twisted Lizard.
glass atrium with a 50-foot arched ceiling holds over 80 live palm trees, lush foliage, hanging
twinkle lights and dancing leapfrog fountains. The Crystal Gardens, offering beautiful views of the
lakefront, Chicago skyline and Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, is located just steps from the main entrance
from Navy Pier on the second level can host up to 100 to 1500 guest.
Navy Pier is also a starting point for many boat trips with ample choice: .Sight Seeing cruises,
Dining Cruises and Private Charters are also available at Navy Pier. Seadog Cruises offers Lake and
River Architectural Tours, Extreme Thrill Rides, Lakefront Speedboat Rides, Fireworks Cruises and
Private Group Events. Chicago’s very own Tall Ship Windy is a majestic 148-foot schooner
modeled after a traditional Great Lakes trading ship and boasts all the character and charm of the
Golden Age of Sail .Shore Line Sightseeing is a family-owned and operated sight seeing cruise.
Odyssey, Spirit of Chicago and Mystic Blue serve as dining cruises. Private Charters include
Chicago Elite Private Yacht and Shoreline Charters are also available.
The Navy Pier used to be home to two museums: the Children's museum and the Smith museum of
Stained Glass Windows, which opened in 2000.The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows
debuts at Navy Pier. It is the first museum in the United States dedicated solely to stained glass windows .
Children’s Museum is three floors of fun for kids (ages 10 and under) and their families is a place
where families and caregivers with infants and children are encouraged to create, explore, and
discover together through play. The museum features three vibrant floors of exhibits and activities
that provide sensory experiences and engaging educational content focusing on literacy, science,
math, visual and performing arts, and health.
This fifty acres of parks and gardens (20 hectares) it attracts more than eight million visitors each
year. Navy Pier is such a tourist hot spot due to its plethora of entertainment options. This legendary
destination has something for everyone and can be enjoyed night or day. This is a top visited leisure
destination in the United States. ,
year. Navy Pier is such a tourist hot spot due to its plethora of entertainment options. This legendary
destination has something for everyone and can be enjoyed night or day. This is a top visited leisure
destination in the United States. ,
Location: Navy Pier Chicago, Illinois.
Camera Used: Canon T5
