Rapid Transit And The L
Prior to construction of the Union Loop, Chicago’s three elevated railway linesthe South Side Elevated Railroad, the Lake Street Elevated Railroad, and the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroadeach had their own terminal on the edges of downtown Chicago. Charles Tyson Yerkes masterminded the linking of these railroads.
Visit Millennium Park & Cloud Gate
While a bit outside of the official Loop, Millennium Park is still considered a part of the Loop neighborhood. This park was built to celebrate the turn of the century and opened in 2005.
Inside of Millennium Park, there are many lovely gardens and several pieces of notable public art most recognizable is Cloud Gate which is more commonly referred to as the Bean.
This stainless steel reflective piece by Anish Kapoor is the centerpiece of Millennium Park. Learn more about it on our Loop & Millennium Park Tour.
Things to see in Millennium Park:
- Cloud Gate designed by Anish Kapoor
- Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry
- Crown Fountain designed by Jaume Plensa
- Lurie Garden- a 5-acre garden which pays homage to our city motto The City in the Garden
- Wrigley Square and Millennium Monument to honor the Millennium Park Founders
- The rotating Boeing Galleries- Constantly changing public art
- BP Bridge designed by Frank Gehry
- Nichols Bridgeway designed by Renzo Piano
Visit The Art Institute
The Art Institute in Chicago which was founded in 1879 is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States.
Travelers from all over the world visit to peer onto Monets haystacks, Van Goghs self-portraits, and Serats Sunday in the Park.
Inside the Art Institute you will find a unique Chicago treat- the Louis Sullivan original trading room from the original Board of Trade reassembled.
Also, behind the Art Institute is an original stock exchange arch design by Adler and Sullivan.Pro Tip: hop-on-hop-off bus tours stop right outside of the Art Institute!
Fun Fact: The Art Institute is technically the location of the start of Route 66! Be sure to find the Route 66 start sign!
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Why Do They Call It The Loop In Chicago
Now that youve got your bearings, just why do they call it The Loop in Chicago? You can thank local transit for that nickname. The elevated makes a loop around Lake Street, Wabash Avenue, Van Buren Street, and Wells Street to form the boundaries of the . In fact, many tourists like to learn how to ride the Loop in Chicago as a quick and easy way to get a glimpse of the city from up high. Just hop off the L when youre ready to explore!
Loop Retail Historic District
The Loop Retail Historic District is a shopping district within the Chicago Loop community area in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is bounded by Lake Street to the north, Ida B. Wells Drive to the south, State Street to the west and Wabash Avenue to the east. The district has the highest density of National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places and Chicago Landmark designated buildings in Chicago. It hosts several historic buildings including former department store flagship locations Marshall Field and Company Building , and the Sullivan Center .
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The Loop Is A Safe Place For Seniors
Crime has no address but the Loop is one of your better options if safety is on your mind. Its served by the 32nd Police District, along with a couple of neighborhood watch groups for greater peace of mind.
The numbers show that the majority of crimes in the community are property crimes, as opposed to the violent type. This doesnt make it right, but its something to consider when comparing places to live.
Visit The Tallest Building In Chicago
The Willis Tower was the tallest building in the world from 1973-1998 standing at 442 meters with 110 floors.
While it isnt the tallest in the world anymore, Chicago is still fiercely proud of the Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill Building!
If you arent afraid of heights, check out the observation deck which is on the 103rd floor at 1353 feet You will see a spectacular view of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
For a unique experience, step out onto the Ledge, an included attraction where you can stand directly over the street!
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The Cultural Center & Museums
Whether you enter the Cultural Center from the street or through the Pedway System on your own or with our Pedway Tour group- it is an architectural gem.
The building itself was originally Chicagos Public library and shows its love for literature through etched quotes on the walls.
The Cultural Center is free public art museum and event center. Be sure to check out their event schedule as well as their free guided tour schedule.
The American Writers Museum is another Loop option for anyone who loves literature or head to the Money Museum if you are fascinated by old bills and the process of printing money.
Explore The Heart Of Downtown With Our Guide To The Best Restaurants Bars And Attractions In The Chicago Loop
The Loop has a reputation for rolling up its sidewalks at 5pm and being a ghost town on the weekends. But a lot has changed in recent years. Millennium Park and big-ticket events like Lollapalooza have made downtown a major destination for concerts in Chicago all summer long. The revitalized Downtown Theater District has put high-profile musicals on the cultural map next to longstanding institutions like the Art Institute, CSO and Lyric Opera. DePaul University, Columbia College and SAIC have a strong student population living downtown, and long-term living has followed with dozens of new residential towerswhich leads to more evening and late-night dining and drinking options. Here are the best things to do in the Chicago Loop.
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Primary And Secondary Schools
Chicago Public Schools serves residents of the Loop. Some residents are zoned to the South Loop School, while some are zoned to the Ogden International School for grades K-8. Some residents are zoned to Phillips Academy High School, while others are zoned to Wells Community Academy High School. Any graduate from Ogden’s 8th grade program may automatically move on to the 9th grade at Ogden, but students who did not graduate from Ogden’s middle school must apply to the high school.
Muchin College Prep, a Noble Network of Charter Schools, is also located here, in the heart of Chicago on State Street.
Private schools:
Millennium Park is located northwest of Grant Park. Originally intended to celebrate the new millennium, it opened in 2004.
Historic Michigan Boulevard District
The Loop also contains the Chicago LandmarkHistoric Michigan Boulevard District, which is the section of Michigan Avenue opposite Grant Park and Millennium Park.
Historical images and current architecture of the Chicago Loop can be found in Explore Chicago Collections, a digital repository made available by Chicago Collections archives, libraries and other cultural institutions in the city.
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Private Transportation And Roads
Chicago’s address system has been standardized as beginning at the intersection of State and Madison Streets since September 1, 1909. Prior to that time, Chicago’s street system was a hodgepodge of various systems which had resulted from the different municipalities that Chicago annexed in the late 19th century. The implementation of the new street system was delayed by two years in the Loop to allow businesses more time to acclimate to their new addresses.
Several streets in the Loop have multiple levels, some as many as three. The most prominent of these is Wacker Drive, which faces the Chicago River throughout the area. Illinois Center neighborhood has three-level streets.
The eastern terminus of U.S. Route 66 , an iconic highway in the United States first charted in 1926, was located at Jackson Boulevard and Michigan Avenue. When Illinois and Missouri agreed that the local signage for US 66 should be replaced with that of Interstate 55 as the highway was predominately northsouth in those states, most signs of the former highway in Chicago were removed without incident but the final sign on the corner of Jackson and Michigan was removed with great fanfare on January 13, 1977, and replaced with a sign reading “END OF ROUTE 66”.
The Cost Of Living In The Loop
Youre not going to escape the high cost of living anywhere in Chicago. However, there are some communities where you can save a few dollars here and there. The Loop doesnt necessarily fit this mold, but there are opportunities available to find something that fits into your budget.
According to Area Vibes, the cost of living in the Loop is among the highest in all of Chicago.
Heres how the costs break down by general categories:
| Index* | |
| Utilities | 93 |
*This cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. If the number you see is below 100, its below the national average. If the number is higher than 100, its above the national average.
If the Loop is on your shortlist of places to live, keep an open mind. You may have to compromise in some areas to ensure yourself of getting what you want in others.
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What Is The Loop
The name derives from the circle or loop that the cable cars in the 1800s made in this area and currently the elevated trains run along the same circular path.
To learn more about this neighborhood and the rich history that takes place here, we have several Pay-What-You-Like tours that will appeal to every traveler.
Check out the Loop & Millennium Park Tour that explores the northern section or our Birth of the Skyscraper-Architecture Tour which delves into the history of our buildings or enjoy the West Loop Gateway Tour that ends at one of the only buildings that survived the Great Fire.
Alternatively, you can also get here using a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. All bus companies have multiple stops in the Loop.
You can reach this area easily by using Chicagos Public transit. If you are new to Chicago, then take a read of our guide to using public transit.
North Of The Loop In Chicago
Most of these sights are either on the Magnificent Mile and its surrounding blocks or close by on the Near North Side.
A River Runs Through It
The Chicago River remains one of the most visible of the city’s major physical features. It’s spanned by more movable bridges within the city limits than any other city in the world. An almost-mystical moment occurs downtown when all the bridges spanning the main and south branches — connecting the Loop to both the Near West Side and the Near North Side — are raised, allowing for the passage of some ship, barge, or contingent of high-masted sailboats. The Chicago River has long outlived the critical commercial function that it once performed. Most of the remaining millworks that occupy its banks no longer depend on the river alone for the transport of their materials, raw and finished.
Rock Around the World
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
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Check Out The Theatre District Or Movies
The Loop was originally an area of old movie palaces, vaudeville acts, and jazz clubs. Today it is a bit tamer, but still famous for a few iconic movie palaces turned into concert or theatre venues.
Theatres in the Loop area include:
If you are a film-lover, visit the Gene Siskel Film Center to catch film festivals, independent films, student films, foreign films, and art films. It is located at 164 N. State Street.
If youd like to catch the best big blockbuster, head to the AMC Movie Theatre at the Block 37 Mall. You can watch the next big hit while in a recliner and eating your dinner.
Pro-tip: Check out our self-guided Downtown Chicago Theatre Tour if you love theatre buildings. Of course, Chicago theatre is not limited to this one neighborhood and we encourage all visitors to travel outside of the Loop!
To see a full calendar of all shows or to buy tickets for shows, click here.
Where Is The Loop In Chicago
First, where is the Loop in Chicago? The Loop is in the heart of downtown with the Chicago River to the north and west, Harrison Street to the south, and Lake Michigan to the east. While it only takes up a 1.58 square mile area, its densely populated with attractions ranging from Millenium Park to the Chicago Riverwalk.
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Woman Shot By 3 Gunmen In The South Loop Police Say
Police are investigating a shooting that left a woman injured Saturday morning in the South Loop. The 20-year-old woman and her boyfriend were traveling in a car when three gunmen began firing at them from another vehicle on the 1300 block of South Michigan Avenue around 5:57 a.m., according to a CPD statement.
One round struck the woman in her left elbow. Her condition stabilized at the University of Chicago Hospital.
Police found the victim on the 2300 block of South Indiana Avenue. The gray Dodge Charger she was riding was riddled with bullet holes.
Witnesses said the shots came from people in a red Dodge Charger that headed south on Michigan Avenue after the shooting. No arrests have been made.
Neighborhood Spotlight: Chicago Riverwalk
At the northern border of the Loop is a 1.25-mile, polished, pedestrian path along the Chicago River from Lake Street to the lakefront. The concept for the Chicago Riverwalk appeared as early as Daniel Burnhams 1909 Plan of Chicago, at a time when the river was a shipping channel filled with industrial waste and sewage.
The Riverwalk that people stroll along today began in earnest in 2001 as part of the Wacker Drive reconstruction project. The goal was to make Chicago a city of two waterfronts, though it took several phases over several years to achieve this, with the most recent section completed in 2016.
The Riverwalk is broken up into distinct sections called rooms.According to the Chicago Architecture Center, each room has a different design and purpose, accommodating diverse activities. For example, The River Theater room between Clark and LaSalle streets has a vast staircase between the river and Upper Wacker Drive. The Riverwalks park-like atmosphere also features restaurants, boat rentals, fishing, and public art displays, such as a 170-foot-long ceramic mural by Chicago artist Ellen Lanyon.
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