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Chicago Loop / Architecture Tour
This Loop Architecture Tour will give you a good overview of Chicago’s downtown, with a focus on the Loop's architecturally significant buildings. Whether you're an architecture novice or a serious architecture buff, you'll find this tour of interest. After all, Chicago is the birthplace of the modern skyscraper and one of the most architectually significant cities in the world. For additional information on Chicago's Loop architecture, stop by the Chicago Architecture Foundation and gift shop at at 224 South Michigan Avenue.
The central business district of Chicago got its nickname “The Loop” from the Elevated (“L”) tracks which encircle the area. The area is bounded by the Chicago River / Wacker Drive on the north and west, Michigan Avenue to the east and Congress Parkway to the south. The Loop is easy to navigate, as the streets are laid-out in a very straightforward grid-like fashion. The intersection of State and Madison is “ground zero”, with street addresses progressively increasing as you move north or south of Madison and east or west of State.
Within the Loop, you’ll get a good feel for the hustle, bustle and strength of Chicago. Residents of the “City of Big Shoulders” work hard, play hard and take great pride in their city. Chicago is headquarters to numerous Fortune 500 companies and boasts a broad and diverse economy. Within this approximately one-square-mile area, you will find great architectural treasures, inspired public art, canyoned city streets, a thriving theater district, numerous restaurant, bars and cafes, and, most importantly, friendly Chicagoans. (Approximate distance of walking tour: 1.75 miles.)
