Navy Pier is a
pier
A pier is a raised structure that rises above a body of water and usually juts out from its shore, typically supported by piling, piles or column, pillars, and provides above-water access to offshore areas. Frequent pier uses include fishing, b ...
on the shoreline of
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and depth () after Lake Superior and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the ...
, located in the
Streeterville
Streeterville is a neighborhood in the Near North Side, Chicago, Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States, north of the Chicago River. It is bounded by the river on the south, the Magnificent Mile portion of Michigan ...
neighborhood of the
Near North Side community area in
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, Illinois, United States. Navy Pier encompasses over of shops, restaurants, live theaters, family attractions, parks (including
Polk Bros Park), gardens, and exhibition facilities, and it is one of the top destinations in the
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...
, drawing over nine million visitors annually.
It is one of the most visited attractions in the entire Midwest and is Chicago's second-most visited tourist attraction.
History
Military usage

Navy Pier opened to the public on July 15, 1916. Originally known as the "Municipal Pier", the pier was built by
Charles Sumner Frost, a nationally known architect, with a design based on the
1909 Plan of Chicago by
Daniel Burnham and
Edward H. Bennett. Its original purpose was to serve as a dock for freighters, passenger ships, and indoor and outdoor recreation; events like expositions and pageants were held there. The pier was built atop 20,000 logs imported from
Oregon
Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...
that were piled into the lake bed of
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and depth () after Lake Superior and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the ...
.
In mid-1918, the pier was also used as a jail for draft dodgers. In 1927, the pier was renamed Navy Pier to honor the naval veterans who served in
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.
In 1941, during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the pier became a training center for the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
; about 10,000 people worked, trained and lived there. The pier contained a 2,500-seat theater, gym, 12-chair barber shop, tailor, cobbler shops, soda fountain and a vast kitchen and hospital.
Beginning in 1946, as the Navy was winding down from its mission, the
University of Illinois
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United ...
held classes at the pier, especially to serve the high demand from returning service members. As the maximum capacity was exceeded, the school outgrew the pier, the
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is a public research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, adjacent to the Chicago Loop. The second campus established under the Universi ...
was partly founded as a result.
After the university left, Navy Pier became underutilized.
Later use

In 1959, the
St. Lawrence Seaway opened and increased commercial shipping activity at the pier for a short time, though business died down and left for more modern facilities at
Lake Calumet. In 1976, the East End buildings were renovated and for a brief period the pier was alive again, home to summer events like
ChicagoFest. But maintenance was not done and the pier went into decline.
In 1989, the City of Chicago had the
Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute, or ULI, is a global nonprofit research and education organization with regional offices in Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and London. ULI aims to help its members and their partners build more equitable, sustainable, heal ...
(ULI) reimagine uses for the pier. The
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, commonly known as MPEA or McPier, is a corporation that owns Navy Pier and McCormick Place in Chicago. It also manages the city's collection of taxes for vehicles picking up passengers (including ...
(MPEA) was created; its responsibility was to manage and operate Navy Pier as well as
McCormick Place
McCormick Place is a convention center in Chicago. It is the largest convention center in North America. It consists of four interconnected buildings and one indoor arena sited on and near the shore of Lake Michigan, about south of the Chicago ...
. The MPEA undertook the redevelopment, incorporating some of ULI's recommendations. In 1995, Navy Pier was redesigned and introduced to the public as a mixed-use venue incorporating retail, dining, entertainment and cultural spaces.
Redevelopment
Efforts to update Navy Pier for the 21st century began on January 13, 2006, when the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority released a proposal for a major renovation of the pier, which including a monorail, a spokeless Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, floating hotel, and a water park with a Great Lakes theme. The plan would have included nearly double the current parking and a replacement theater with a greater capacity. At the time of the announcement, a price tag of $2 billion was announced.
Following the reorganization of the agency that runs Navy Pier and McCormick Place, a new study was commissioned to reinvigorate the upgrade process. The new study, by the Urban Land Institute, was released on November 11, 2010, and recommended a more modest set of enhancements aimed at retaining the pier's role as a public space, rather than turning it into a theme park. Suggested elements include a concert venue, an enlarged
Chicago Shakespeare Theater space, new restaurants, a renovated commercial area around the pier's entrance and additional park-like features to bring people closer to the lake. Possibilities, including the enlarged Ferris wheel and a hotel, are mentioned as more remote possibilities.

In March 2012, a competition led to selection of a design concept presented by a team led by
James Corner of James Corner Field Operations that focuses on the pier's role as a waterfront promenade. In 2013, the Authority announced plans to carry out the first elements of a streamlined version of that concept, with reworked streetscape and a wider pedestrian space, moving tour-boat moorings to improve the view from a new central stairway centered on the Ferris wheel. Work began on the redevelopment plan, called ''The Centennial Vision,'' during the winter of 2013–2014. The purpose of the plan is to fulfill the mission to keep Navy Pier as a world-class public space and to renovate the pier so it will have more evening and year-round entertainment and more compelling landscape and design features. The Polk Family Foundation (founded by
Sol Polk) donated $20 million to the redevelopment effort; the park and fountain at the entrance to the pier was named the
Polk Bros Park and Fountain. The park hosts concerts and screens films.
A new Ferris wheel for the pier was announced on June 23, 2015. It is tall, taller than its predecessor. Rides now last twelve minutes instead of seven and feature three revolutions. The new wheel has brighter lights and opened in May 2016.
''The Centennial Vision''
's first phase was completed in summer 2016. Work included the redesign of the Pier's public spaces, known as Pierscape, and improvements to the interior of the Family Pavilion and South Arcade. Phase I projects included the transformation of South Dock into a more engaging, greener space, conversion of the South Arcade indoor walkway into a Chicago-themed food experience and creation of a lighted water fountain/ice skating rink in Polk Bros Park. In November 2016, Phase I development achieved Gold certification under the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) rating system, based on its expanded green spaces, improved pedestrian access, energy efficiency, innovative storm water management, and use of recycled local materials.
Phase II projects include the development of a seven-story, 240-room hotel, adjacent to the south side of Festival Hall; marquee additions to the East End Plaza, including a proposed arched, elevated overlook walkway and reflective water feature; a Welcome Pavilion in the 13-acre Polk Bros Park with 4,000 square feet for guest services and programmatic space; a seasonal ice rink within the footprint of the Polk Bros Park's fountain and plaza; and a short-term, north-side boat docking facility for use by recreational boaters seasonally.
Attractions


There are many outdoor attractions at the Navy Pier Park, such as the Pepsi Wave Swinger, Light Tower Ride, Remote Control Boats (now removed along with fountain around the Wave Swinger), Teacups and the Carousel. New for 2021 is Drop Tower, an S&S
Double Shot relocated from the closed
Pleasure Island.
Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze is on the pier. It is a self-paced, full sensory maze experience where a person navigates their way through of tunnels and mazes. Crystal Gardens is a one-acre, botanical garden inside the pier. It is a six-story glass atrium with a arched ceiling. Many schools come here for field-trips to see and experience the attraction.
The
Chicago Children's Museum is a part of the pier, with many different exhibits and activities for both children and adults to enjoy.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, a theater that performs Shakespeare's productions, is located there.
The original Ferris wheel was sold on September 27, 2015, and moved to
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri. Most of the city is situated in Taney County, Missouri, Taney County, with a small portion in the west extending into Stone County, Missouri, Stone County. Branson is in the Ozarks, Ozark Mountain ...
, where it opened in 2016. The new Ferris wheel which replaced it is a DW60 from Dutch Wheels, the Netherlands-based company that built the pier's former wheel. The state-of-the-art DW60 is the first of its kind in the U.S. with similar wheels currently in operation in Hong Kong and Baku, Azerbaijan. Significant features include two-sided cars that allow for easy loading and unloading, a fortified structure to withstand winds of and safety glass capable of weathering intense storms. The new Ferris Wheel was unveiled on May 27, 2016.
Around April 2019, the pier’s original carousel that had operated since 1995 was dismantled and removed, after the original carousel’s mechanism broke due to
cold weather in early 2019. Around late May into June, a new carousel was installed in the site of the original. This new carousel had previously operated at
Dorney Park from 1986-2016 under the name Chance Carousel.
Tenants
The ''
Chicago Sun-Times
The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily nonprofit newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has long held the second largest circulation among Chicago newspaper ...
'' has its headquarters in Navy Pier.
WBEZ
WBEZ (91.5 FM) – branded ''WBEZ 91.5'' – is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, and primarily serving the tri-state region of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is owned by Chicago Public Media and is f ...
, affiliated with the newspaper, is the lessee of of space, which has radio and newspaper functions.
Events and art
Navy Pier hosts sightseeing tours from companies such as Seadog Ventures
Shoreline Sightseeingcruises and Water Taxi service, and the tall ship "Windy". There are also dinner cruises by Entertainment Cruises on their ships the ''Spirit of Chicago'', ''Odyssey II'', and ''Mystic Blue''. The pier has fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday nights during the summer and Saturday nights during the fall.
Navy Pier hosts the Fifth Third Bank Winter Wonderfest from December through January.
Many outdoor art installations are displayed on the pier. The anchor from the naval vessel
USS ''Chicago'' (CA-136/CG-11) is on display at the far end. Other installations include a statue of actor
Bob Newhart
George Robert Newhart (September 5, 1929 – July 18, 2024) was an American comedian and actor. Newhart was known for his deadpan and stammering delivery style. Beginning his career as a stand-up comedian, he transitioned his career to acting in ...
on a couch as seen on ''
The Bob Newhart Show
''The Bob Newhart Show'' is an American television sitcom produced by MTM Enterprises that aired on CBS from September 16, 1972, to April 1, 1978, with a total of 142 half-hour episodes over six seasons. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a psychol ...
'', the ''
Captain on the Helm'' statue dedicated to maritime captains, and the ''
Crack the Whip'' sculpture of eight children at play holding hands by
J. Seward Johnson Jr.
The Festival Halls can be used for sporting events. Festival Halls A and B can be turned into a 170,000 square foot competition arena.
Gymnastics meets have been held in the Festival Halls.
wheel of fortune in 2002 and 2008 Chicago week college week family style week get in the game week
Bus routes
CTA
* 2 Hyde Park Express (weekday rush hours only)
* 29 State
* 65 Grand
* 66 Chicago
* 124 Navy Pier
In popular culture
The halls were used to represent
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
, in the 1986 movie ''
The Color of Money
''The Color of Money'' is a 1986 American Sports film, sports Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is the sequel to the 1961 film ''The Hustler''. Like the previous film, ''The Color of Money'' is based on a ...
'' for the 9-Ball Championship.
In both
''Raw Deal'' and ''
Cooley High'', the pier was used as a location for car chases.
The
fourth season finale of ''
T. J. Hooker'', titled "The Chicago Connection", featured a scene in front of the then-abandoned pier.
In the film ''
Divergent'', the pier and Ferris wheel are shown abandoned and decayed in a future Chicago and it is stated that they were abandoned by choice a long time before. The Dauntless members play capture the flag in the park. Tris and Four climb the Ferris wheel to spot the opposing team. In the book, the opposing team hides the flag in a park near Navy Pier, while in the film version, the flag is hidden in a tower of the Chicago Children's Museum building.
In the video game ''
NASCAR 09
''NASCAR 09'' is the twelfth simulation installment in the EA Sports NASCAR series and the sequel to 2007 game ''NASCAR 08''. It is developed by EA Tiburon and released on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in June 2008, and for J2ME, ...
'', the pier is featured as a fictional race track.
The album/DVD ''
A Long Day's Night'' by
Blue Öyster Cult was recorded live at Navy Pier/Skyline Stage on June 21, 2002.
See also
*
Navy Pier Auditorium
The Navy Pier Auditorium, designed by the architect Charles Sumner Frost and constructed in 1916, is located at the east end of Navy Pier in Chicago and is also known as the Hall. The Navy Pier Auditorium consists of the Festival Hall and the Aon ...
*
Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows
References
External links
*
Chicago Children's Museumon Navy Pier
Chicago Shakespeare Theateron Navy Pier
{{Authority control
1916 establishments in Illinois
Buildings and structures completed in 1916
Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Chicago
Central Chicago
Gymnastics venues in Chicago
Chicago Landmarks
Piers in Illinois
Piers on the National Register of Historic Places
Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in the United States
Shopping malls in Chicago
Tourist attractions in Chicago
Transportation buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois