Chicago Theatre, Chicago (must see)
You can鈥檛 miss it鈥攍iterally鈥攖hat unmistakable marquee and the vertical towering 鈥淐HICAGO鈥� sign blazing in red and gold above State Street! That鈥檚 the Chicago Theatre to you, showing off like it鈥檚 the city's prom queen鈥攁nd honestly, with a face like that, who can blame it? Modeled after Paris鈥檚 Triumphal Arch, its fa莽ade has been photobombing tourists since 1921. Nicknamed the 鈥淲onder Theatre of the World,鈥� it rose from the ashes鈥攚ell, sort of鈥攔ight after the Great Fire, borrowing both the flair and the structural quirks of earlier architecture. Case in point: its rare cast-iron fa莽ade, one of the last survivors in the Loop, which, while stylish, has a not-so-charming tendency to melt like a grilled cheese when exposed to a blaze.
But the real scene-stealer is inside. Imagine Versailles by way of the Midwest. You鈥檝e got grand staircases inspired by the Paris Opera House, crystal chandeliers that could outshine the sun, and a lobby that screams royal chapel chic. The 3,800-seat auditorium isn鈥檛 just massive鈥攊t鈥檚 expertly designed, so nobody gets stuck behind a pole, or worse, someone with a feathered hat...
Back in the day, the theatre dazzled audiences with silent films, live orchestras, and its mighty Wurlitzer organ鈥攁n absolute unit of an instrument. These days, it鈥檚 still flexing, hosting everything from musicals and concerts to stand-up legends. And if you're feeling nosy (or nostalgic), you can join a tour, where you will stand on the same stage graced by Sousa, Ellington, Ellen, and Queen Bey herself. Don鈥檛 skip the backstage walls either鈥攁utographs, inside jokes, and a century鈥檚 worth of showbiz spirit still echo in Sharpie ink.
So, yes, come for the photo op鈥攂ut stay for the jaw-dropping grandeur, ghost stories of velvet curtains past, and maybe even a Beyonc茅 echo if the acoustics are just right...
But the real scene-stealer is inside. Imagine Versailles by way of the Midwest. You鈥檝e got grand staircases inspired by the Paris Opera House, crystal chandeliers that could outshine the sun, and a lobby that screams royal chapel chic. The 3,800-seat auditorium isn鈥檛 just massive鈥攊t鈥檚 expertly designed, so nobody gets stuck behind a pole, or worse, someone with a feathered hat...
Back in the day, the theatre dazzled audiences with silent films, live orchestras, and its mighty Wurlitzer organ鈥攁n absolute unit of an instrument. These days, it鈥檚 still flexing, hosting everything from musicals and concerts to stand-up legends. And if you're feeling nosy (or nostalgic), you can join a tour, where you will stand on the same stage graced by Sousa, Ellington, Ellen, and Queen Bey herself. Don鈥檛 skip the backstage walls either鈥攁utographs, inside jokes, and a century鈥檚 worth of showbiz spirit still echo in Sharpie ink.
So, yes, come for the photo op鈥攂ut stay for the jaw-dropping grandeur, ghost stories of velvet curtains past, and maybe even a Beyonc茅 echo if the acoustics are just right...
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Chicago Theatre on Map
Sight Name: Chicago Theatre
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois
Create Your Own Walk in Chicago
Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Chicago Navy Pier Walking Tour
Additional to scenic views of the lake, the boats, and the city skyline, the Navy Pier offers a variety of attractions on the waterfront 鈥� for kids as well as adults 鈥� that draw nearly ten million people annually, making this Chicago's most visited spot. Yes, some may see it as a 鈥渢ourist trap鈥�, but it is worth the time and money to spend some time here, so take this self-guided walk... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture Tour in Oak Park
Oak Park, located in Cook County, Illinois, just outside Chicago, made history in 1889 when Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America's most renowned architects, and his wife settled there, leaving a profound impact on the area's appearance. This village boasts the highest concentration of Wright-crafted buildings in the world - over a dozen! - making it a pivotal destination for enthusiasts to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Loop District Architecture Walking Tour
The Chicago Loop District鈥攅ssentially the city鈥檚 historic downtown鈥攈as long been a stage for architectural innovation and an open-air museum of American architecture.
The construction boom started after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed much of the central business district, gave architects a blank canvas to rebuild the city from the ground up. What followed was a surge of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
The construction boom started after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed much of the central business district, gave architects a blank canvas to rebuild the city from the ground up. What followed was a surge of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
The Magnificent Mile Walking Tour
The stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lake Shore Drive, otherwise known as the Magnificent Mile, is regarded as one of the world鈥檚 great avenues 鈥� or Chicago鈥檚 version of Fifth Avenue. Take this self-guided walk to explore its whole stretch and surrounding area, featuring a wide selection of amazing stores/malls, world-known museums, restaurants and spectacular... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Chicago Chinatown Walking Tour
Tucked away just south of the Loop, the Chinatown of Chicago was established in 1912 and is considered one of the best examples of American Chinatown. While it may be one of Chicago鈥檚 smallest neighborhoods geographically, it is big on character, colors, sights, sounds, and flavors. Here, you鈥檒l find a wide range of unique boutiques, specialty shops, religious sights, authentic Chinese... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Chicago Introduction Walking Tour
Chicago, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois, is a city steeped in history and urban vibrancy. Known by numerous nicknames such as the Windy City and the City of Big Shoulders, it boasts a skyline marked by towering structures. The area of today's Chicago, initially inhabited by Native American tribes, saw its first European-settled reference as "Chicagou" in 1679, a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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