My first visit to Chicago I went to see the Wrigley Building. After that I found more non tourist…read moretype places to visit during trips to Chicago. It is certainly a historic landmark. You must go at least once. I'm in for anything with the Wrigley name!

Built in the 1920's for Wrigley the gum magnet in downtown Chicago. It's known for its Spanish…read moreColonial Revival style, featuring 2 towers & a distinctive white terra cotta facade. It was the first air conditioned building in the city. In the 1957 science fiction film Beginning of the End, giant grasshoppers attack downtown, are shown climbing up the side of the Wrigley Building.

I would have to double-check but I know I have been to the Hollyhock House in Hollywood and…read moreTaliesin West last year with the wife. I have been a fan of FLW for decades and have collected books and attended furniture/furnishings exhibits when available. The tour with guide Chris of the exterior and interior was exceptional. He pointed out the logic behind the design and things that could be missed by those not paying attention or in the FLW mindset. He gave us a lot of other interesting details that I was unaware of or forgot tied to this house. It is located right next to the University of Chicago campus which was cool. The area is very pretty. The house has been restored and is in very good shape overall. It is a must-see for FLW fans. The wife picked up a Craftsman pin, and I bought a Craftsman metal bookmark in the gift shop so I would have something to remember the time spent here. The cost is fair for what it is.

Loved the architecture and we had an excellent tour guide…read more I was disappointed by the lack of furniture as other houses and FLW buildings I have visited have at least been partially staged. The tour is mostly just for the building. I also wish there had also been more story about FLW himself and his involvement in the Robie house design. I understand that much of the house was not preserved as the Robie family lived in the house only for a year and then it moved on to multiple other owners so I can't be too critical, but part of what I love about FLW buildings is that he doesn't just design buildings, but living (or working) spaces. We loved the Laurent house, Taliesin/West and the SE Johnson buildings for that reason. I also would love to see the outdoor areas of the Robie house in better shape, with nicer landscaping to bring it back to where FLW would have imagined it. Hopefully with the foundation's involvement and continued patronage it will be what all FLW fans would wish for soon! Worth a visit for sure!

One of the many Frank Lloyd Wright houses on our list, we bought tickets while in town…read more I will say apart from the house being somewhat contradictory to many attributes that make up a Wright design, the house was very nice. The tour however was probably one of the weakest I have been to. Our guide was forgetful and really didn't go over the basics with the house as we are accustomed to with Wright tours: commission of the home, Wright himself, change of hands with home, and while walking thru it- design aspects chosen inside the home. There's three levels - you only get to see two, and the second floor is currently an office so it is hard to get a real feel for the place. Easily the weakest tour we have been on

I love the work of Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, so touring this house made perfect since…read moreas both were involved in its design. The mansion is located in a gorgeous corner of the Gold Coast and represents an important part of the city's architectural story. That being said, it's not the most impressive historic house I've ever been in. In fact, it wasn't the most impressive one I went in on that day. For me, the things that made this tour worth doing were the small details like the windows, doors, wood screen in the hallway, and the fireplace surround. There aren't many rooms and the furnishings are not original. The textured walls seem odd and the lighting has been altered in several places (like he sconces). The tour guide was very knowledgeable, but they don't know much about the original owners due to their private nature. The building is now used as offices, so the upstairs bedrooms contain desks and bookshelves rather than being set as they were intended. It takes some imagination when you walk though them. The house is only open two days a week - Wed and Sat. I bought tickets I advance, but you can probably get them in person most times. I'm glad I went, it the friend who accompanied me thought it wasn't as impressive as the other houses we toured that afternoon.

Cool building and love the view. Was there on a beautiful day. Lobby has a Starbucks. Central…read morelocation with lots of walking options.

Clearly the most stately, tall building in Chicago, covered in granite from head to toe, it'll be…read morethe 4th tallest, right after Vista (Jeanne Gang) - which is practically next door. You may have seen the plans to build an external glass elevator (SW corner of the building) which will lead to a top level visiting area - for tourists and Yelpers alike. Looking North you have views of John Hancock, Trump Tower. Looking south and East - you have stunning views of Millennium Park, the curvature of the planet (view from the 80th floor), the lake, the Bean, etc. The parking garage below is so convenient but please allow time for security, which is good. Great restaurants and places to eat within this building - Starbucks, Market Thyme, AuBon Pain, Sopprafina and Jimmy Johns. The flags of our 50 states adorn the front area and there's a beautiful fountain out front. The lobby area is modern, yet inviting. It's also connected to the Pedway, so you can get to ORD (via the Blue-line) or other places in the loop, without ever having to be exposed to the elements.

Excellent roadside attraction. Completed in 1934, this is a water tower in disguise. Added to the…read moreNational Register of Historic places in 2019 the tower is closed for tours while the tower itself, the grounds around it and the parking area are getting a face lift. Keep an eye on their social media and/or website for updates on when tours will begin again. The tower bells ring out a song at 9am, noon, 3pm and 6pm and gives a single chime every quarter hour. The bells are lovely. At the time of this review the parking area is unavailable during renovation. The Aldi's parking lot next to the tower would be a good option until their lot opens again. The gardens around the tower are filled with beautifully scented flowers. The reflecting pool in front is very nice and there are two tiers of seating facing the tower with gardens between the tiers.

Went to visit the mini Leaning Tower. A Historic place. Went early Saturday morning and no one was…read morethere. Glad to have gone during the summer. As the water was filled, grass was green, and green trees/bushes. Area was clean. Very small area. Lots of seating though facing the tower. We walked the area and took pictures 5-10min. Parking is at the wholesale warehouse or the Aldi parking lost next to the Tower.

After I learned the hard way that the South Side Community Art Center and the Bronzeville Visitor…read moreInformation Center were BOTH closed on a frosty January Sunday, my botched attempt to observe the spirit of Martin Luther King Day by learning about African-American history culminated with a misguided visit to Douglas Tomb. From a few blocks away I looked up in awe at the 9' bronze statue atop a towering 46' monument. It wasn't until I entered the park gate that I realized my latest mistake: not only did this guy spell his last name with one 's', but he was also white. I.e., not Frederick Douglass. [smacks self on forehead] The man who holds a high perch on the eastern fringe of the Bronzeville neighborhood goes by the name Stephen A. Douglas. Douglas was a prominent white local landowner in the area long before Bronzeville became known as the mecca of African-American history. A lifelong politician, he played a significant role in establishing America's western territories and railroads before losing the presidential election to Abe Lincoln in 1860. Douglas' belief in popular sovereignty, i.e. the notion that new territories should be allowed to individually decide on slavery by popular vote, ultimately led to his political downfall. Here at the monument, one can stand over the sarcophagus containing Douglas' dead body and carry on the longstanding scholarly debate about whether Douglas was *personally* opposed to slavery; some argue his name and monument should be removed, while others are dedicated to preserving his legacy. Even on Yelp, if you search for either the community area Douglas or the neighborhood Bronzeville, you'll see the two names superimposed on top of each other. We all know that nice guys don't get statuized, though, and with Douglas' gaze fixed at more than 50' above ground it's impossible to look him in the eye to properly judge the nuances of his character. Only one fact was and remains as true as this monument is high: the guy was prominent.

I have visited Douglas Park many times because I'm a historian of Douglas and a board member of the…read moreStephen A. Douglas Association. It's a beautiful park, very peaceful, and for several years now it has been home to the Bronzeville Historical Society, which is headquartered there. You can learn a great deal about African-American history in Chicago by talking with the charismatic founder and CEO of the society, Sherry Williams, or by settling into the upstairs library and picking out a good book. Sherry is also very knowledgeable about Douglas, his family's slaves, and the underground railroad. As an additional bonus, the park is only a short walk from the lakeshore because it is the terminus of a pedestrian bridge that runs over the railroad tracks and the highway (the bridge is currently in the process of being replaced by a spectacular suspension bridge for both bikers and pedestrians). Moreover, since October 2014, the park features a feature-length film on Douglas that can be seen at the site if the Bronzeville Historical Society is open. I produced and directed the film, which is titled "Stephen A. Douglas and the Fate of American Democracy," and which interweaves the story of Douglas' life and that of the nation from the Revolution to the Civil War. The film was made with the cooperation of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, and received a 2015 Award of Superior Achievement from the Illinois State Historical Society. It features voice acting from leading Douglas and Lincoln reenactors, clips from five historians, and several hundred images drawn from several dozen archival collections, including the Stephen A. Douglas Papers at the University of Chicago. There is no charge to enter the park, to watch the film, or to visit the Bronzeville Historical Society. All are welcome! If possible, however, come when Sherry is on site. She's a truly engaging human being. The phone number of the society is 312-428-8033. Graham Peck

The Chicago waterfront buildings shaped like corn cobs are the Marina City Towers, a distinctive…read moremixed-use complex located on the Chicago River at 300 North State Street. Designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg, the twin, petal-shaped towers were completed in the mid-1960s and are a landmark of Modernist architecture, originally built to revitalize downtown living. The House of Blues & Legal Seafood are in the lobby of these towers.

Often volunteer for a lot of different events, both work related and other. When I received an…read moreemail to sign up for the Pullman Railroad Days, I did not hesitate. The forecast said rain and it was cloudy for all of forty-two minutes . When the sun appeared it was blazing. I had to wrap my jacket around my waist. My job was both a greeter at the gate and a ticket checker for the walking tours. If there were more than eight in a group, I was able to tag along. Seeing the old Pullman cars at the 111th Street platform was a special treat. Being able to walk through, tour, sit in the seats and hear a bit of the history behind the creation was priceless. True luxury and comfort for overnight traveling. By the way, we are allowed to charter a car through Amtrak. Call for pricing. Hotel Florence was beautiful, so many original structures still in place. Each step of the walking tour was a rich piece of history. We even spoke with one of the home owners sitting on their porch. Even the information center was like a museum. Beautiful memoirs of the past strategically placed through out. I will definitely do it again next year. I had so much fun.

Great site as a history buff while visiting Chicago the history of the Pullman porter that allowed…read moreblack men and women travel cross country as domestic