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

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.

Route 66 - Chicago…read more I'm a Route 66 enthusiast. America's most iconic road trip spans over 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. I really wanted to see this sign after having been to "The Heart of Historic Route 66" in Kingman AZ and making stops at nearby attractions along Route 66 including Chloride, Seligman, Hackberry General Store, Giganticus Headicus, Sitgreaves Pass, and Oatman AZ. In Tulsa OK we stopped by the 'East meets West' statue. We had a little walk looking for the sign after hopping off Stop #3 at the Millennium Park. The road sign sits just outside a Starbucks shop on either side of E Adams Street. There is also a marker facing Michigan Avenue with a short history (in English facing the road, Spanish translation facing the sidewalk). Hope they clean it up... it's got full of stickers and graffiti LoL Route 66 (aka "The Mother Road") is packed with history, quirky roadside attractions and covers the states of Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California. Review #3826

While on a mobsters and haunted mysteries walking tour with my son on a cold, rainy, Sunday…read moreafternoon, we stopped here. Per the tour guide, this was the starting location of Route 66 that went all the way to Santa Monica. There's a ghost story behind this as well that was interesting. Apparently, there are multiple signs throughout the city as well. I didn't notice them but then again, I wasn't looking for them either.

Centerpiece of the Logan Square green space is this column. It certainly is an impressive work out…read moreart and an important part of area history. The Illinois Centennial Memorial Column is the meaning of this large structure. A lot of interesting facts about it. You can find out more online. Basic story about it is this was placed here to celebrate the State of Illinois' 100th anniversary. It was built in 1918 and designed by Henry Bacon, the architect of the Lincoln Memorial. This is the main attraction of Logan Square. It's known as a Doric column. On the base are reliefs of Ceres, Daniel Boone, and Hiawatha. At the top is an eagle. This is a reference of the state flag, which has an eagle on it. Alongside the column is a flagpole. There's a concrete plaque dedicated to soldiers who died in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. Also the column is based on the proportions and scale of the Parthenon's colonnade. This explains the use of the figures of Greek mythology. Also there's a few seating structures around it. This makes it a good place for a rest and stuff. Have to get a closer look to appreciate the craftsmanship and history. It's certainly a very impressive structure. There's lots of history to read up on about this so you can go check out more about the architect who made this and other things.

If you have ever visited Logan Square neighborhood, a key site that stands out in the inner portion…read moreof the neighborhood is the Illinois Centennial Monument because of its height and intriguing design. Built in 1918, the monument was honored 100 years of Illinois statehood, designed by Henry Bacon, famed architect of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Evelyn Beatrice Longman sculpted the eagle, along with the bas reliefs of the base, which the eagle measures ten feet in height. I tend to utilize this monument as my key landmark while running or cycling in the Logan Square neighborhood. Since I have been a fitness enthusiast for well over a decade, I have always made historic landmarks like the Illinois Centennial Monument my key point during workouts because it adds extra enthusiasm to the adventure. From my perspective select parts like this of Logan Square are perfect for a cyclist because it is scenic, and Logan Boulevard is not too shabby of a road for road or triathlon bikes, plus it has a good stretch to it from the monument towards Bucktown & Wicker Park neighborhood. Most people tend to just walk through the area of the Illinois Centennial Monument, but it looks to be the perfect place where you can relax and read a book. The monument itself has no individual parking of its own, but if you ever wish to view it up close, there are several businesses surrounding in the area that are open for you to park, as well as neighborhood parking. Thomas G

Drove by on a Thursday afternoon. I thought it was a private home but it appears that there are…read moretours every last Saturday of the month. This is fantastic! There is only street parking so it will probably be hard to park. Best to uber or lyft if coming. The outside area seems to be well maintained. Goigle their website to plan ahead and see more info.

No tour was available. Looks well maintained. Not worth the trip unless you are in the immediate…read morevicinity.

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.

The Kluczynski building is part of a larger federal complex. It shares a plaza with the downtown…read morepost office, and across the street is the Dirksen federal courthouse, with the three forming the Federal Plaza. It is architecturally significant because it is a building designed by Mies van de Rohe, along with the other buildings. One thing that is somewhat distinct, and pleases the part of me that likes things symmetrical and neat, is that the seams of the building line up with the stones used in the plaza surrounding each building. My understanding is that this was done to establish a cohesion between the three buildings, even though they're separated by Dearborn Street. I absorbed some Mies history during the 11 years I worked for the university at which he remains the most famous person associated with it (even over 50 years after his death). The Kluczynski building is classical Mies architecture. The first floor is recessed from the rest of the building, and is fully wrapped in glass. There's no offices really on this floor, as is the case in so many of his other buildings, where the first floor is almost always a common space. Black steel and glass that rises 45 stories into the air is typically Miesian. In addition to being a Mies building, the Flamingo by Alexander Calder--one of Chicago's most recognizable pieces of public art--is located in the plaza between the Kluczynski building and the post office. This building houses offices for several different federal organizations: Labor, the Passport Agency, the federal credit union, the offices for the senators for Illinois, OPM, etc. You'll absolutely need ID when entering this building so come prepared.