July 16, 2026

Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Some places are built for a single purpose; others keep reinventing themselves. Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, United States, falls into the second category. The structure stretches more than 915 metres into the lake and was designed as part of Edward H. Bennett's and Daniel Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago. Opened in 1916, the pier was built for shipping, recreation and passenger travel on Lake Michigan. It was renamed Navy Pier in honour of World War I naval veterans.

Step outside today and the surroundings feel very different. The skyline fills the view, while Lake Michigan stretches far beyond the pier. On clear days, the contrast between glass towers and open water is hard to miss.

The pier is now home to parks, performance spaces, restaurants, family attractions, a museum and waterfront activities. Many visitors know the Centennial Wheel, but fewer know that the pier once housed university students attending classes after World War II. One structure, many lives. That's an unusual resume for a Chicago landmark.