Must-see skyscrapers and grand public buildings for their size, design and sometimes location. Chicago has the second largest collection of skyscrapers in America.

Downtown, The Loop

All sites are located south of the Chicago River and extending south along Michigan Avenue:

    * Burnham Building - built 1895, the world's first office skyscraper
    * Sears Tower - 1,454 feet, tallest in North America
    * Amoco Building - 1,135 feet, 2nd tallest in city, renamed
    * Two Prudential Plaza - 978 feet
    * 311 South Wacker Drive - 959 feet
    * AT&T Center - 895 feet
    * One First National Plaza - 850 feet
    * Three First National Plaza - 753 feet
    * 333 Wacker Drive - curves with the Chicago River
    * Boeing Building - a recent eye-catcher along South Chicago River
    * Union Station - a fine train station interior
    * Leo Burnett Building - "Advertising Building"
    * Top-sliced Building -
    * Gothic Skyscraper Church - Washington & Clark Streets
    * City Hall - a Mies Ven Der Rohe "muscular" classic design
    * James Thompson Plaza - inventive government building
    * Art Institute of Chicago - partly built over train tracks
    * Curvy Condos - along South Chicago River

Downtown, Near North

All sites are located north of Chicago River and extending north along Michigan Avenue:

    * John Hancock Tower - 1,127 feet, 3rd tallest in city
    * Water Tower - most interesting Gothic design in America
    * Water Tower Place - 859 feet, multi-use skyscraper
    * Museum of Contemporary Art
    * Merchandise Mart - one of the world largest buildings
    * Tribune Tower - winning design from a worldwide contest
    * Wrigley Building - worthy companion to Tribune Tower
    * Trump Tower - under construction, city's 4th tallest
    * Marina Towers - overlook Chicago River

Downtown, Museum Campus

All sites are located south of Grant facing or near Lake Michigan:

    * Adler Planetarium – a fantastic lakefront location
    * Shedd Aquarium - most interesting Gothic design in America
    * Soldier Field - the colonnades make this stadium special
    * Field Museum of Natural History - grand in scope