Millennium Park - Art & Architecture

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Millennium Park - Art & Architecture

Author: Dee Fabbricatore

No visit to downtown Chicago would be complete without a stop at Millennium Park. Among Millennium Park’s many attractions are Gehry's flower-shaped Jay Pritzker Pavilion, London artist Anish Kapoor's jelly bean-shaped Cloud Gate sculpture (a.k.a. “The Bean”), and Barcelona artist Jaume Plensa's twin towers of illuminated glass—the Crown Fountain.

Millennium Park - Art

Cloud Gate a.k.a. "The Bean"

More commonly referred to as “the bean," this 110-ton elliptical sculpture sits pretty in the Park's upper level, SBC plaza, and is quite possibly Millennium Park’s most famous attraction. Designed by renowned British artist, Anish Kapoor, the inspiration for the 33-ft high monument was liquid mercury. With the Chicago skyline as a dramatic backdrop, this 66-ft. long by 33-ft. high sculpture was designed for public interaction. Visitors can walk around and through it, and can get up close and personal to see their own reflection mirrored against that of Chicago's landscape.

Fact Sheet

About the Artist

The Crown Fountain

The Crown Fountain This is perhaps one of the most unique displays of public art, these dueling 50-ft.-high fountains stand like bookends to a small reflecting pool at the Park’s south end. The towers personify the diversity of Chicago’s people by projecting over 1,000 faces of Chicago volunteer social workers.

Photo by kevindooley

Fact Sheet

About the Artist

The Boeing Galleries

A much needed-formal space for public exhibitions, this open-air gallery is lined by either side by a row of sycamore trees - a rarity right in the center of the city. The gallery features modern and contemporary art and visitors can experience the work and ideas of living artists. This venue showcases high-quality pieces in a cultural context.

Featured Exhibits

Millennium Park - Architecture

Wrigley Square & Millennium Monument

At the northern end of Millennium Park sits a spectacle whose significance goes far beyond its architectural design. A replica of the original Peristyle that stood in its place during 1917 and 1953, this monument signifies the journey of the Millennium Park creation from its original visionaries to today’s founders, serving as a link between past and present.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Home to the Grant Park Music Festival (June-August) and free concert events throughout the summer season, this 120-ft. high arena is the first of its kind in a sophisticated musical experience. With seating for 11,000 listeners, the Pavilion was designed by Frank Gehry and replicates the acoustics of an indoor venue, making every seat in the house a good one.

Fact Sheet

About the Architect

BP Bridge

Also designed by Frank Gehry, this 925-foot-long bridge connects Millennium Park to Daley Bicentennial Plaza, just east of the park. Clad in brushed stainless steel panels, the BP Bridge complements the Pritzker Pavilion in function as well as design by creating an acoustic barrier from the traffic noise below.Better yet, the bridge offers yet another spectacular view of the skyline.

Millennium Park - Attractions

McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink

During the winter months, sharpen your skates for Millennium Park’s own outdoor rink. With the city as your backdrop, the ice is a perfect spot for a Saturday afternoon retreat with the family or a romantic outing with your loved one. When the weather begins to change, the rink is transformed into an outdoor bar and grill, complete with eats from the Park Grill restaurant and live entertainment.

The Chase Promenade

This three-block long walkway creates a beautiful outdoor area beween Randolph and Monroe Streets and hosts year-round free events, including ethnic festivals, exhibitions and family events. The Chase Promenade crosses the park and welcomes visitors to explore a wide variety of park activities.

The Lurie Garden

Designed by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel, this 5 acre garden pays homage to the City's motto, "Urbs in Horto" (City in a Garden), which refers to Chicago's transformation from its flat and marshy origins to a bold and powerful city. Highlights of the garden include the dramatically lit, 15-foot-high "shoulder" hedge.

Garden Components

Plant Life at The Lurie Garden

Experience guided and self-guided tours of all art, architecture and attractions at Millennium Park! Millennium Park Tour Guide

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nearby places of interest

Bongo Room
1152 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60605

Serving breakfast and lunch, this sibling to the popular Wicker Park location serves omelets, breakfast burritos and upscale flapjack offerings such as the “Oreo cookie” for breakfast. If you’re looking for lunch, seasonally inspired salads and sandwiches highlight the menu.

Terzo Piano
159 E. Monroe, Chicago, IL 60603

Located in the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, Terzo Piano is a must-stop for lunch and Thursday dinner. Fresh, local cuisine cooked by popular Spiaggia's Chef Tony Mantuano can be eaten alfresco on the covered piazza while enjoying spectacualr views of Millennium Park.

The Gage
24. S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603

The Gage offers high-end Irish fare with a touch of elegance and class. Located near Millenium Park, this restaurant offers traditional Irish foods along with all-American favorites.

Potter's
17 E Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60603

Located inside the Palmer House Hilton, Potter's offers unique retro cocktails and delicious small plates in a classically elegant setting.

The Gage
24. S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603

The Gage offers high-end Irish fare with a touch of elegance and class. Located near Millenium Park, this restaurant offers traditional Irish foods along with all-American favorites.

Bike Chicago Rental & Tours
239 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601

Bicycle rental, bicycle tours, segway tours, and in-line skate rentals make Bike Chicago a key attraction in the city. Bike Chicago has five locations scattered throughout the Chicago area, which is convenient for tourists and locals alike.

Bobby's Bike Hike
465 N McClurg Court, Chicago, IL 60611

Guided bike tours, (bicycles provided), that are definitely family friendly. Tours are designed for riders of all ages and fitness levels. A great way to learn about Chicago’s past, as well as insight into current events around the city. Bike rentals are also available for riders looking to explore the nearby Lakefront Bike Path.

Buckingham Fountain
Congress Parkway & Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL 60601

The Buckingham Fountain is one of the most popular attractions in Chicago. Located in Grant Park, it's unique and stunning architecture is a sight to see. Be sure to come on the hour to see the water display as it shoots out water 150 feet in the air for 20 minutes.

John Hancock Observatory
875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611

See Chicago from the top of the John Hancock Center in the heart of downtown. The John Hancock Observatory offers Chicago views at their finest and their new Cafe Espression by Lavazza is one of the most high altitude coffee purveyors in the world.

Lincoln Park Zoo
2200 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago, IL 60614

Lincoln Park Zoo, located in Chicago, is among the oldest zoological gardens in the country (established in 1868) and is also among the most modern. Generations of Chicago kids and visitors to the city alike take the time to stand face to face with apes and even go palm-to-palm with them through the glass. Human-to-animal interaction is mixed with the heavily scientific- and research-based initiatives here.

Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60610

Millennium Park has become Chicago’s newest main stage attractions. Aligned with the city’s emphasis on architectural innovation, this 24.5-acre phenomenon integrates historical significance with contemporary style from a number of international players. It is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the north and Monroe Street to the south.

Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60605

Navy Pier, one of the top tourist attractions in Chicago and the country, is visited by almost nine million visitors per year. From dining to shopping, boat tours to countless entertainment options, Navy Pier in Chicago is a must-stop for a wide range of visitors--Chicago residents already know and love it!Watch our latest video offering and take a quick, two-minute narrated tour through the highlights at Navy Pier, stern to bow.

Ravinia Festival
418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park, IL 60035

A lineup of pop, classical, folk, jazz and other musical performances under the stars or an open-air pavilion. Concerts March through Sept.

John Hancock Observatory
875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611