Navy Pier - Chicago, Illinois
Posted by: 
Hikenutty
N 41° 53.494 W 087° 36.463
16T E 449584 N 4637915
The Navy Pier was built in 1916 as part of Daniel Burnham and associates "Plan of Chicago". Over the years it has seen many uses, but it is now a tourist attraction with rides, shows and convention space.
Waymark Code: WM1XTD
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 07/29/2007
Views: 48
The Navy Pier was built in 1916 as part of Daniel Burnham and associates "Plan of Chicago". Originally it was used primarily as a cargo facility for lake freighters, and warehouses were built up and down the pier. However, there was also private docking space for passenger ships and at the end of the pier there was an area for public entertainment. A streetcar ran the length of the pier at this time. Later the pier was used by the Navy as a docking facility, and after WWII it was used by the University of Illinois as a undergraduate school for retraining returning war veterans.
In the Early 1990's the pier was renovated at a cost of about $200 million and a 150 foot ferris wheel and rides were added along with an IMAX theater, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Chicago Children's Museum, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, and numerous snack kiosks and vendors. It is still the departure location for the many sightseeing cruises along the Chicago river and the Lake Michigan shoreline.
A new plan for the park was released in January of 2006 with a price tag of 2 billion dollars. It calls for a major renovation of the pier which would include a monorail, a 260-foot spokeless Ferris wheel, a rollercoaster, floating hotel, and an 80,000 square foot water park with a Great Lakes theme. The theater would also be renovated and enlarged.
The "Official Tourism" URL link to the attraction: [Web Link]
The attraction’s own URL: [Web Link]
Hours of Operation:
Summer (Friday before Memorial Day - Labor Day)
Sunday - Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight
Fall (Tuesday following Labor Day through October)
Sunday - Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Winter (November 1 - March 31)
Monday -Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Spring (April 1 - The Thursday before Memorial Day)
Sunday - Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Admission Prices:
Entering the Navy Pier is free. Tickets for the rides are as follows:
Ferris wheel: $6.00
All other individual Rides: $5.00
OR Combo Tickets:
Two Ride: $9.00
Three Ride: $10.00
Four Ride: $11.00
Approximate amount of time needed to fully experience the attraction: Half of a day (2-5 hours)
Transportation options to the attraction: Personal Vehicle or Public Transportation
|
Visit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.