Unspecified/General

On the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, the building long known as the Sears Tower, Skydeck Chicago is one of the highest observation decks in the country, looking out over the city from more than 1,350 feet above the streets. For a time the tower was the tallest building in the world, and on a clear day the view from its summit reaches across the flat Midwest to neighbouring states and far over Lake Michigan. The tower rose in the early 1970s as the headquarters of the retailer Sears, its bundled-tube structure of stacked square shafts a landmark of engineering, and the Skydeck opened to the public in 1974. The building was later renamed for an insurance broker, though many locals still call it by its original name, and the observation deck has remained one of the city's top attractions. Its signature thrill, added in 2009, is the Ledge: a set of glass boxes that jut out from the side of the building, with transparent floors, so visitors can stand suspended in the air and look straight down the tower's face to the street far below. The deck also offers interactive exhibits on the city's history and a fast lift ride to the top. The view takes in the grid of the Loop, the river, the lakefront and the sprawl beyond, a sweeping panorama that rewards both daytime and after-dark visits. For visitors the Skydeck is a headline attraction with timed tickets and options for priority entry, reached through the tower's lower-level entrance. It sits in the western Loop, easily reached on foot or by transit, and is especially popular around sunset, though queues can be long, so booking ahead is wise. The building's distinctive profile of stepped, bundled tubes was a structural breakthrough that allowed it to climb higher than anything before it, and that engineering story is told in the exhibits on the way up. The Ledge boxes are the undisputed highlight, drawing nervous laughter as visitors edge out over the glass floor with nothing but air beneath their feet. On clear days the view stretches across the lake and into neighbouring states, while after dark the city glitters in every direction below the deck.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, United States

Website: https://theskydeck.com

Opening Date: 01/01/1974