Local Guides World
Top Historical landmarks in Chicago, United States
Top Rated Historical landmarks in Chicago
Top Reviewed Historical landmarks in Chicago
Shedd Aquarium
Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
Colvin House
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Living Memorial
Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium
Museum Campus
Chicago Water Tower
Monument of the Millennium Marker
The Race House
Arlington Deming Historic District
Iglehart House
Reviews
Very good overall.
The wild reef section is excellent.
4d cinema screens are bad. Screen has scratches and dust.
The length of dolphin shows is too short
The wild reef section is excellent.
4d cinema screens are bad. Screen has scratches and dust.
The length of dolphin shows is too short
MUST FOR ALL SEA ANIMAL LOVERS!!
We had a memorable experience at the SHEDD. The exhibits were amazing. The place was well marked with directions and instructions. My son loves sea animals and had a wonderful birthday here. The place is beautiful and beyond words. It’s well maintained and has lots to offer. Come and check it out.
We had a memorable experience at the SHEDD. The exhibits were amazing. The place was well marked with directions and instructions. My son loves sea animals and had a wonderful birthday here. The place is beautiful and beyond words. It’s well maintained and has lots to offer. Come and check it out.
You really have to go. Plenty to keep kids eyes and hands busy. The building and grounds are beautiful. Parking isn't that bad l, just pricey. Bathrooms on every floor. Just plan on a lot of walking. If you're planning on buying food here, sell some stock before you go...gets expensive quick.
The museum is fantastic, there's so much to see and so much information, there's no way to see it all in one day. But, the parking situation was RIDICULOUS. They had cones up directing people arriving in loops going nowhere. $30 for parking and finally got parked after about 25 minutes of that nonsense.
What a pleasant surprise! It has been years since I came here as a kid (45 years)... My husband and I took the behind the scenes tour with Finn as our guide. Finn was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, enthusiastic and loved his work. This was so worth the money and this tour was really the best experience. I highly recommend doing this - it will be unforgettable!
We went for the penguins and loved it all. We got lucky and caught the spotlight for the dolphins and penguins. Goodness I have been following Wellington since Covid so it was such a delight to see him.
I liked touching the starfish too.
It looks big but was a bit smaller than I expected. Maybe since a lot is under construction right now.
Staff is super friendly offering tips and wanting to be helpful.
Still a recommend.
I liked touching the starfish too.
It looks big but was a bit smaller than I expected. Maybe since a lot is under construction right now.
Staff is super friendly offering tips and wanting to be helpful.
Still a recommend.
Eintritt war im City Pass enthalten, daher war das Erlebnis für den Preis ok. Hätte ich das Einzelticket bezahlen müssen, wäre es meiner Meinung nach zu teuer.
Haben hier etwa 3 Stunden verbracht und alles gesehen, mit zwei 4D Filmen (2 Filme von Dreien sind im City Pass enthalten) und der Show im Amphitheater.
Die Fütterung der Delfine war sehenswert.
Das Personal ist freundlich und beantwortet gerne Fragen.
Haben hier etwa 3 Stunden verbracht und alles gesehen, mit zwei 4D Filmen (2 Filme von Dreien sind im City Pass enthalten) und der Show im Amphitheater.
Die Fütterung der Delfine war sehenswert.
Das Personal ist freundlich und beantwortet gerne Fragen.
Chicago Water Tower is a historic landmark located on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1869, this limestone tower is one of the few surviving structures that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. With its distinctive castle-like appearance, the Chicago Water Tower has become an iconic symbol of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
Designed by architect William W. Boyington, the Water Tower was originally constructed to house a 135-foot tall standpipe, which provided water pressure for the city's rapidly growing population. However, its purpose expanded beyond that of a mere water storage facility. After the fire ravaged the city, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, the Water Tower stood tall amidst the ruins, serving as a beacon of hope for the residents of Chicago.
The tower's design is a blend of Gothic Revival and castellated architecture, featuring battlements, turrets, and ornate detailing. Its exterior is adorned with intricate carvings and decorative stone work, showcasing the craftsmanship of the era. The Water Tower's slender profile and elegant proportions make it a true architectural gem.
Today, the Chicago Water Tower serves as a gallery space for the City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower.
Designed by architect William W. Boyington, the Water Tower was originally constructed to house a 135-foot tall standpipe, which provided water pressure for the city's rapidly growing population. However, its purpose expanded beyond that of a mere water storage facility. After the fire ravaged the city, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, the Water Tower stood tall amidst the ruins, serving as a beacon of hope for the residents of Chicago.
The tower's design is a blend of Gothic Revival and castellated architecture, featuring battlements, turrets, and ornate detailing. Its exterior is adorned with intricate carvings and decorative stone work, showcasing the craftsmanship of the era. The Water Tower's slender profile and elegant proportions make it a true architectural gem.
Today, the Chicago Water Tower serves as a gallery space for the City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower.
Even though there is construction going on it didn't interfere with our visit. Nice, big aquarium. Loved the cafe area & how much is recycled. Disappointed that the water was so cloudy in the underwater viewing area. Took less than 2 hours for the 3 of us. Quite pricey.
There are a lot of things to see in the museum, which is great but they make you pay a lot more money once you are inside. Several area they charge additional fees for. I was disappointed. It wasn't cheap to get in. If you had time and money to do it all it could be very expensive!
Great aquarium! I got us tickets to the penguin encounter. We got to spend 45 min with a penguin. It was very informative and fun. For both of us it was almost $200.00, it also includes a general admission to the aquarium. The shows and the exhibits are great. There are a lot of kid areas. They also have a couple of food options and vending machines. The staff is super friendly and helpful. We have been here a couple of times, and it's always a great experience. I would Uber or Lyft there. So you don't have to deal with parking.
Went to the Colvin House for Open House Chicago 2023. Very beautiful space.
Overall I loived our experience there and my kids were very impressed (and worn out) by the end. My only issue is the city "Free Pass". I wa told by my brother that I should wait to go because through his local library he could get us a FREE pass to the Aquarium. So after weeks of waiting we finally got it and all that you get for FREE is the lobby!!
I can literally come in off the street and have the same experience without this worthless pass. The whole point is to get your toes dipped into the proverbial pool so you see what you can't get and pay for admission anyway!
I can literally come in off the street and have the same experience without this worthless pass. The whole point is to get your toes dipped into the proverbial pool so you see what you can't get and pay for admission anyway!
Chicago museums are absolutely a sight to visit as they are spectacular! Just the architecture alone is magnificent. Once inside you will not be disappointed.
It was a cool aquarium. Pretty expensive though, and even though my family works in Chicago and lives only 5 mins outside Chiago City limits, they would not give us a resident rate. We enjoyed the day but will never go back. The area outside was fabulous. So much to do in the area that we will explore elsewhere. The Veteran monument outside Soldier Stadium was spectacular
Had a good experience here, loved all the different varieties of sea creatures. Some of them were very interactive as well and very unique, never seen before.
Also saw the beluga whales show which was very nice.
Although the shark aquarium could use more sharks we had to wait for a shark to circle back to take a look.
Also saw the beluga whales show which was very nice.
Although the shark aquarium could use more sharks we had to wait for a shark to circle back to take a look.
Such a great aquarium! The exhibits are all really well taken care of.
The food is actually good too!
Lived in the Midwest my whole life and it took me 38 years to finally get here. Don't be like me and visit the Shedd!
The food is actually good too!
Lived in the Midwest my whole life and it took me 38 years to finally get here. Don't be like me and visit the Shedd!
Loved this aquarium! I feel like you can't really go wrong on vacation with visiting a zoo or aquarium, and this is a really good one. I got there not long after opening so it wasn't too busy, but by the time I left it was definitely busier. So go early for sure and hit the most popular areas first. Many of the various shows and the sting ray petting area were super cool, and free with admission. I would definitely go back.
Great aquarium with an amazing collection! Wasn’t too crowded. Huge space for eating — we brought our own food and saved money. Outdoor eating area has amazing view of the lake. Reef area was hard to get to due to construction—had to wait in line for elevator to get down, and the photo booth caused a bottleneck when you get out of the elevators. Otherwise, displays are amazing. The big tank has a show every hour on the half hour, so we made it to 3 different ones. Dolphin show was the favorite of course.
Parking was a short walk away, though you want to get there early to find the close parking.
Parking was a short walk away, though you want to get there early to find the close parking.
Let's hit some key points here. First of all we have never been here before so we had zero expectations.
1 first stop upon getting in the gate is the stingray encounter. It would make WAY more sense to have the food tickets available out at the exhibit instead of having to go inside then back out. The exhibit feeding was worth the $5. It's intimidating and not for everyone but was fun.
2. There are maps available online and through the app. They don't make sense in real life being there or maybe there was signage missing that I didn't notice to help with the flow.
3 maybe once all exhibits are open the flow makes more sense but today it seemed really crazy. It's pretty much a free for all when you enter.
Pros! There are employees everywhere! They are all so kind and helpful. It was a bit expensive to get in so we just upgraded to a membership. I'm thrilled we did as we will be back to see the exhibits we didn't get to. It was a bit of a maze so we didn't get to see everything like we had intended. We snagged some 9am tickets and I'm glad we did as we were out by noon having almost seen everything. It was SO packed when we left I can't imagine much more people fitting in there
1 first stop upon getting in the gate is the stingray encounter. It would make WAY more sense to have the food tickets available out at the exhibit instead of having to go inside then back out. The exhibit feeding was worth the $5. It's intimidating and not for everyone but was fun.
2. There are maps available online and through the app. They don't make sense in real life being there or maybe there was signage missing that I didn't notice to help with the flow.
3 maybe once all exhibits are open the flow makes more sense but today it seemed really crazy. It's pretty much a free for all when you enter.
Pros! There are employees everywhere! They are all so kind and helpful. It was a bit expensive to get in so we just upgraded to a membership. I'm thrilled we did as we will be back to see the exhibits we didn't get to. It was a bit of a maze so we didn't get to see everything like we had intended. We snagged some 9am tickets and I'm glad we did as we were out by noon having almost seen everything. It was SO packed when we left I can't imagine much more people fitting in there
Your kids (and you) will love this aquarium. Beautiful location on the lake in an amazing historic building. The aquatic exhibits are fantastic and the large amphitheater has reall cool educational shows with dolphins / beluga whales etc. you can go downstairs to see into those tanks and get an underwater look at belugas and dolphins.
There is a kids playground in the basement with a digital background so it looks like they are with penguins. Also a neat submarine to play in.
Wild reef area is a lot of fun as well.
If you are having lunch, I suggest the patio on the lake (or if you are leaving around lunch just picnic on the lawn on the lake).
There is a kids playground in the basement with a digital background so it looks like they are with penguins. Also a neat submarine to play in.
Wild reef area is a lot of fun as well.
If you are having lunch, I suggest the patio on the lake (or if you are leaving around lunch just picnic on the lawn on the lake).
Very nice building. The back courtyard had some very uneven bricks that were too easy to trip on.
my boss got married here and me and my girlfriend attended his wedding. i cried when he said his vows. this place will always have a place in my heart.
Note: there is currently construction going on not schedule to be done until 2027.
Overall the aquarium is a great learning experience. They sealife of all sorts. Everything from ocean animals to the Great lakes.
Everything is well marked and a teaching moment for younger kids and adults. It's definitely fun for the whole family.
The penguins and dolphins were our favorite!
Overall the aquarium is a great learning experience. They sealife of all sorts. Everything from ocean animals to the Great lakes.
Everything is well marked and a teaching moment for younger kids and adults. It's definitely fun for the whole family.
The penguins and dolphins were our favorite!
I went to this aquarium because my brother's family has a yearly pass for his entire family. We went there on a Friday and it was very busy since it was summer time. I believe three of the exhibits were closed. One of the main shows was with dolphins and it was very cool. We got to see all the exhibits that were open in a very timely manner. We even enjoyed some ice cream from one of the food trucks outside. I highly recommend this museum, it has all the good stuff you'd expect from a high quality museum.
We visited the Shed Aquarium, and it was all I had hoped it would be. This is the first time I have been here, and it was an awesome experience! Dolphins, fish, crabs, whales, turtles, stingrays, this place has them all. Next time, I would like to visit the Planetarium!
good day
you help us!
in the United for Ukraine program
questionnaire form L-134
Uscis to the Beneficiary by email
Uscis website
after successful registration, we must obtain a travel permit
please help, it will take 20 minutes of your time and save our lives!
you help us!
in the United for Ukraine program
questionnaire form L-134
Uscis to the Beneficiary by email
Uscis website
after successful registration, we must obtain a travel permit
please help, it will take 20 minutes of your time and save our lives!
Our docent, Grace, gave us an hourlong tour of Holy Trinity and we were captivated from beginning to end. A beautiful piece of Chicago, and Orthodox history. Highly recommend visiting!
I attended an evening concert by the wonderful Radium Swing Band in the Colvin House courtyard. It's a wonderful venue for music and I would go back again.
We arrived just prior to opening on a Monday morning and were the first in line. The employees came out and scanned our tickets about 5 minutes before opening which was promptly at 9.
All the employees we encountered were friendly and willing to help.
The aquarium itself is huge with plenty to see and do! There are several hands on exhibits where you can touch stingrays, starfish and sturgeon (fish)!
They also have a dolphin tank with shows, and a theatre for various movies.
The gift shop was huge!
Everything was clean and well taken care of.
We parked down the road at the big lot near the planetarium for $12.
Overall a great experience.
All the employees we encountered were friendly and willing to help.
The aquarium itself is huge with plenty to see and do! There are several hands on exhibits where you can touch stingrays, starfish and sturgeon (fish)!
They also have a dolphin tank with shows, and a theatre for various movies.
The gift shop was huge!
Everything was clean and well taken care of.
We parked down the road at the big lot near the planetarium for $12.
Overall a great experience.
The symbol for a city determined to rise from its own ashes. -Chicago
It is a historic site, don’t miss it. I have not seen such a similar water treatment site in another city. It is located centrally
Chicago water 🌊 tower is a historic Chicago Landmark.
WHY IS THIS ICONIC:
When the 1871 Chicago fire 🔥 burned the entire city to the grounds razing for 2.5 days , melting even iron rods, this Chicago water tower survived. Though it was damaged,it could be renovated easily.
WHY ONE MUST VISIT:
1) It is a landmark building
2) lt is surrounded by a pretty park where you can relax by a small fountain and may be have some snacks
3) It's very close to Magnificent mile. So, visit when you are around
4) It's a gorgeous 😍 limestone building
5) Delight for history and architecture lovers
WHY IS THIS ICONIC:
When the 1871 Chicago fire 🔥 burned the entire city to the grounds razing for 2.5 days , melting even iron rods, this Chicago water tower survived. Though it was damaged,it could be renovated easily.
WHY ONE MUST VISIT:
1) It is a landmark building
2) lt is surrounded by a pretty park where you can relax by a small fountain and may be have some snacks
3) It's very close to Magnificent mile. So, visit when you are around
4) It's a gorgeous 😍 limestone building
5) Delight for history and architecture lovers
A beautiful Russian Orthodox church in the middle of Ukrainian Village in Chicago, established 120 years ago. Very friendly parish and caring priest Father Alexander.
Wonderful tour (check website for schedule). This is a beautiful church! Highly recommended!
He would be a Republican today.
Easy historical site to visit as you explore the beautiful downtown city of Chicago. We had no idea the amazing architecture in this city and The Water Tower is worth meandering by. It is pretty awesome to see such a unique structure made of limestone so long ago that survived the fires.
A wonderful venue for having large gatherings along with smaller ones. Great for discussions and events.
A Chicago historical landmark. A small sit down park in the heart of the city.. Beautifully kept year round..
Lil bit of history
What an innovative use of an old mansion and what a great outdoor venue for good music. Staff couldn't have been nicer
The Old Chicago Water Tower, located just north of Michigan Avenue next to the John Hancock Center, was one of the few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Today, the Chicago Water Tower has become a Chicago landmark. The Chicago Water Tower was built in 1869. The material used is large limestone. The entire water tower is quite in the style of 13th-century European Gothic architecture. It looks more like a miniature castle than a water tower. Designed by architect William W. Boyington, the water tower is about 47 meters high and the interior is about 42 meters high.
Exquisite Italianate style with an undertone of Louis Sullivan influence.
A Historical Chicago land mark is beautiful to behold.
Sometimes street performers may play or sing for you.
Sometimes street performers may play or sing for you.
Cool historic house and even cooler purple bathroom on the second floor. Support their events. I went to see comedy there and it did not disappoint.
Beautiful event space, lovely staff. Perfect for large parties as well as intimate gatherings of any kind. Lots of ambience.
It's clean and lighting is proper. I highly recommend to go during the day.
Another "gem" church here in Chicago.
This one in particular is attributed to the genius architect Louis Sullivan.
Smaller in stature, succinct in message, an edifice defined that does not need description. To the point. Modest. Importantly extant. Beautifully simple, luxuriously summed to balanced perfection. I like this building and art. I really hope this church remains important and preserved in Chicago for many more generations. My photos do not do this building justice. See for yourself.
This one in particular is attributed to the genius architect Louis Sullivan.
Smaller in stature, succinct in message, an edifice defined that does not need description. To the point. Modest. Importantly extant. Beautifully simple, luxuriously summed to balanced perfection. I like this building and art. I really hope this church remains important and preserved in Chicago for many more generations. My photos do not do this building justice. See for yourself.
Excellent memorial with an important message! Educate yourself. I'm sure you will learn something new about Neighborhood history 💯
A small but stunningly beautiful and very historic Orthodox.
I'm glad it's here. MLK should be celebrated everywhere in the U.S.
Marquette Park beautiful display of Martin Luther King's Memorial great place to have a cookout and go golfing and a great place to live
Didn't stay for the mass, but popped in because I heard the building was designed by Louis Sullivan, the famous architect who taught Frank Lloyd Wright. I was not at all disappointed. the building is absolutely beautiful and has a lovely feeling of peace and silence, which can be hard to find in busy Chicago.
The Memorial beautifully, importantly and thought provokingly marks the historically significant work of Dr. King, here in Chicago!
Wonderful church!! Amazing architecture by Louis Sullivan and a nice friendly parish. The services are beautiful as well as the interior of the cathedral with old Russian icons and paintings. They have a good a capella choir. Highly recommend to visit. All services are in English.
Powerful.