You will find this spot in Chicago's world famous Daley Plaza. It is designated as a war memorial…read moreand honors those who served and died in the armed forces. The flame, which is about the size of a stove burner or flag base, comes up from the sidewalk so, obviously it is fenced off to provide it some protection and also for the visitor's safety as well. The Flame was first lit on August 22, 1972 and was dedicated by Mayor Richard J. Daley. On the ground near the flame you will find a plaque that reads: "Eternal Flame in memory of the men and women who have served in our armed forces from the Revolutionary War to present. Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves and Merchant Marines." The Flame has been known to be a pigeon heater during the cold months, with the fence providing the pigeons uninterrupted and exclusive access to the warmth of the flame. The flame is positioned just off of the Plaza's flagpole. It is a very basic design and could use a little cleaning and TLC. They do powerwash the area around the Flame periodically, but it is hard to keep up. I am in support of anything that shows appreciation for our heroes, with this memorial being no exception. With that being said, this is not a destination piece and is just something that visitors would probably just stumble across like I did.

Close to the former site of Fort Dearborn was another important site in Chicago. It was where one…read moreof the city's most important figures lived. Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable also had a trading post on this site. Also it was the first permanent, non-native residence in the city it's believed. This is now partially occupied by Pioneer Court on the north side of the river by the Michigan Avenue Bridge, and there's a bust and plaque. After he sold the property, it was discovered it contained a bakehouse, two barns, a dairy, a poultry house, and a smokehouse among other buildings. It then became owned by John Kinzie. The land was sold to the city in 1834 and platted. Basically it was the first land north of the river the city expanded into. This was located from the lake to State Street. A plaque was placed in 1937 that notes the location of Kinzie Mansion. Then in 2009 Erik Blume made a bronze bust of Point Du Sable. Also the bridge was renamed after him. Then Lake Shore Drive was also renamed so he got honored quite a lot. He was an important figure in the city. In fact one of the first to live here. There's lots of recognition for him throughout.

This bronze bust is of the founder and first citizen of the city of Chicago. Pointe Dusable was a…read moreHaitian-born fur trader. The bust can be found in an area called Pioneer Court of the Magnificent mile with its back to the Chicago river. Interestingly enough it is located close to the site of the Pointe DuSable House, designated a National Historic Landmark since 1977. It is the work of Erik Blome, who did the sculpture in 2009. Lesley Benodin donated it to the City of Chicago Public Art Collection in honor of DuSable. The bust is sitting on a granite base. The base has a nice sized plaque that gives a brief blurb about the sculpture, the artist, and Pointe Dusable. It is in very good shape, very detailed and has an uncanny resemblance to what Pointe Dusable looked like. Remember there were not many photographs back then. It is a very scenic sculpture, with a nice view of the Chicago river and skyline serving as its backdrop. Parking to get a closer look at this sculpture is difficult to do. This sculpture is not a destination piece and most of its viewers will be passerbys such as myself. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. Also, be very careful if you are going to get a closer look, as i previously mentioned, this is located at a busy roundabout. With that being said, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a sucker for any veteran memorial. You will find this memorial…read morealong the Chicago River in the Riverwalk. Crash Dive Base and USS Chicago Base raised the funds for the project. The memorial pays tribute to the 28 submarines that were built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and traveled down Lake Michigan, through the Chicago River, en route to the Pacific Ocean theater. Hence why the memorial overlooks the Chicago River. The memorial was designed by Frank Voznak III and fabricated by Chicago Scenic Studios in 2018. It is a very nice design that is interactive. It is made of solid steel and was designed to resemble an interior bulkhead of a World War II submarine. It consists of a flagpole, a mock submarine watertight door, a two metal and teak wood (material that was commonly used in those subs) benches. It is all on some nice brick pavers. The memorial also has some informational placards with information such as a map of the route traveled, a picture of one of the submarines passing through the raised Lake Shore Drive Bridge, and the names of the 28 Wisconsin-produced submarines. Additionally there is one that thanks the memorial donors. The flagpole has the American flag and Chicago flag. The watertight door is actually from the USS Trout, a submarine built in the 1950s and decommissioned in 1978. The memorial is very creative and looks great. Even though it is not a destination memorial, it is still worth a visit. It has a few informational placards that certainly gave me an education of those WWII subs. This memorial is well designed and even though it is small, it stills demands your attention. If you are transiting the Riverwalk, I highly recommend stopping by this memorial and paying respects.

I heard of the wooden alley many years ago and have driven by but never really stopped to look…read more The wooden alley is a remnant of a bygone era for sure. Located in Near North near the Cardinal's Residence, this alley runs west to east and is made entirely of wooden blocks. Wood blocks started being used for construction in this manner in the mid-19th century, which made lots of fuel for the Great Fire, of course. This style of paving obviously fell out of favor as new technology emerged. The neighborhood likes to cultivate an air of the 19th / early 20th century with gas lamps and this adds to the aura. This alley was constructed in 1909, restored over the years, and is one of only two remaining in the city of Chicago. It's been on the National Register of Historic Places for 20 years. If you're in the area you can stop here to see something unusual and quirky for this day and age.

This is probably something thousands of people pass by every day and have no idea something like…read morethis is here. We found this on Atlas Obscura and followed directions from there. It is just south of Lincoln Park. Stepping onto the wood itself, it feels much softer than the asphalt of your typical street or the material your standard sidewalk is made out of. There is a historical marker near State Parkway detailing the history behind the wooden alley.

Really cool venue! Beautiful historical building. It…read morecurrently is housing the run of "Theatre of the Mind" created by David Byrne and Mala GaonkarI love the decor! Comfy furniture and waiting rooms. A locker room to store your belongs and a fun gift store to visit on your way out. Warm atmosphere. Lots of rooms for this special immersive theatre experience. I high recommend attending!

I accidentally went into the Reid Murdoch Center thinking it was the right location for my…read moreappointment, but it turned out to be the wrong building. Thankfully, the experience was still a positive one thanks to the security guard, Tyree. He was extremely helpful and provided clear directions to get me where I needed to go. Tyree had a great personality and was very friendly--not just to me, but to everyone coming through the lobby. It's always nice to see someone take pride in their job and treat people with kindness. Even though I was in the wrong place, I left with a good impression of the building and its staff.

Between the Riverwalk and the Navy pier is this attractive fountain. It was dedicated 1989. There…read morewere many shady spots to sit & admire the fountain with plugs to charge up ur technology.

You will find this small memorial on the RIverwalk. This memorial pays tribute to the State's…read moreVietnam veterans from all 5 branches of the service. Them memorial was dedicated in 2005 and features amphitheater stadium seating, a fountain basin and stone wall inscribed with the names of those the Illinois residents that died during the Vietnam War. You will find emblems of the five branches of service and a dedication plaque. The stone wall was from the former Vietnam Memorial that located on Wacker Drive that this memorial replaced. The memorial received a much needed face lift in March 2024. I am a sucker for, and appreciate military memorials and showing of appreciation for service. The seating provides a nice place to sit and reflect while listening to the soothing and calming flow of the fountain. It is a simple memorial, but still powerful. I will admit that the walls and memorial area could use a good power washing, put is still in good repair. This memorial is a nice addition to the RIverwalk and is definitely worth a visit if you are on the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk may be a bit hectic, but this area has a calming/peaceful effect.

As the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, I was pleasantly surprised to find this treasure in the midst…read moreof Chicago's downtown area. It's well done and wonderful reminder of the service and sacrifice of so many.

A monument of culture and history deeply rooted in the development of not only the Bronzeville…read moreneighborhood, but our city and modern society. This bronze sculpture designed by Alison Saar stands tall overlooking southbound traffic along Martin Luther King Drive, just south of I-55, as one enters historical Bronzeville. A ton (literally probably much more) of symbolism based around the movement of hundreds of thousands of people moving north after reconstruction and into the 20th century, looking for a better life. The base of the sculpture is a series of shoe soles layered on top of each other eventually forming the body of a man and his clothing. Most of these soles have holes symbolizing the tough journey African Americans faced in this journey to the north and into new lives. The man holds a suitcase with one arm and waives with his other. Surrounding the sculpture is another series of suitcases acting as both protection, but fitting into the symbolism of the art. The long history of African American movement from the south eventually settling throughout the north (amongst other places) and bringing with them their culture, food recipes, and other traditions to mold themselves into the greater fabric of not only our city, but society in general is on display in the living history that takes part in so many places throughout the city. Bronzeville just happens to be one filled with rich traditions and iconic places and institutions jam packed with a ton of local and culturally relevant history. Bronzeville also includes monuments that invoke remembrance of the past that are controversial and even sad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Douglas). Which brings me to my point. Many who live in this city aren't even aware of the Monument for the Great Northern Migration which is a shame. It is a great symbol of a legacy that has enriched modern society in so many ways and is a topic that still has relevance in modern culture and life today. Their stories should not be forgotten. Come see this sculpture. Then go around and walk amongst one of Chicago's great neighborhoods- Bronzeville.

This monument represents the Great Migration from the South to Chicago and, hopefully, a better…read morelife. I love its symbolism!