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Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is quite magnificent. This stretch of Michigan Avenue on the Near North Side, from the Chicago River to Oak Street, is one of the greatest streets in America.
Brief History of the Magnificent Mile
Originally known as Pine Street, in the 19th century what’s now the Magnificent Mile was lined with factories and warehouses. In 1891, the first plan to extend Michigan Avenue north to connect with Pine Street was proposed. One early plan called for a tunnel, while in 1903 the Chicago Tribune proposed a bridge.
In 1918, construction began on the Michigan Avenue Bridge. It opened to traffic in 1920. Pine Street, which was finally connected to Michigan Avenue, was renamed and a new commercial district sprung up quickly. Today, the entire street is lined with some of the finest shopping, restaurants, and hotels in the country, along with so much more.
Organization of This Post
While most people flock to the Magnificent Mile for the shopping, many miss out on some of the historical buildings that line the street. In this entry, I won’t talk too much about shopping opportunities. Instead, I’ll explain some of the interesting features and historic buildings along the street. I’ll start at the Chicago River and work my way north to the end of the street.
Pioneer Court
Pioneer Court is a small historic plaza at the at the southern end of the Magnificent Mile. It sits at the junction of the Chicago River and Michigan Avenue on the north side of the Michigan Avenue Bridge.
DuSable Homestead
Pioneer Court was built on the former site of the DuSable Homestead, which was the first permanent non-Native American settlement in what is now Chicago. Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable (c. 1745-1818), an African-Haitian, opened a trading post there around 1780 and is recognized as the founder of the city.
DuSable lived at the site with his Potawatomi wife, Kitihawa, and children. Their house was a 22 by 40 foot (6.7 by 12.2 meter) log cabin. The property also included two barns, a horse-drawn mill, a bakehouse, a poultry house, a dairy, and a smokehouse. In 1796, DuSable’s granddaughter, Eulalie Pelletier, was the first non-native to be born in what is now Chicago. DuSable sold his homestead to John Kinzie (1763-1828), a fur trader from Québec, in 1800.
In 2009, a private donor unveiled a bronze bust of DuSable made by Chicago-born sculptor Erik Blome at Pioneer Court. The site became a National Historic Landmark on May 11, 1976.
Bust of Jack Brickhouse
A bust of legendary Chicago sportscaster Jack Brickhouse (1916-1998) permanently features at Pioneer Court. He was most famous for calling Chicago Cubs games on WGN from 1940 to 1945 and 1948 to 1981. He also called Chicago White Sox games from 1940 to 1945 and 1948 to 1967; Chicago Bears games from 1953 to 1977; and Chicago Bulls games from 1966 to 1973. His voice The bust of Jack Brickhouse was dedicated in 2000 and renovated in 2009.
Apple Store
There’s also a beautiful Apple Store that sits on the south side of Pioneer Court. It’s a welcome addition after moving from its previous location a few blocks north down Michigan Avenue. The lower level opens onto the River Esplanade along the Chicago River. The building opened in 2017.
Wrigley Building
The historic Wrigley Building sits across the street from Pioneer Court. It’s one of the iconic skyscrapers of Chicago. The building is on the same spot Jacques Marquette (1637-1675) and Louis Joliet (1645-1700) made their first portage west of the Great Lakes and where Robert de La Salle (1643-1687) planted the French flag.
The Wrigley Building was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. It was built in two stages between 1920 and 1924 to house the headquarters of the Wrigley Company. It was the first major office building north of the Chicago River and was modeled after the Giralda in Sevilla, Spain. The Wrigley Building was also the first air-conditioned office building in Chicago.
The façade of the Wrigley Building is covered in terra cotta. The taller south tower has 30 stories and stands 425 feet (130 meters) high. It was completed in September 1921. The north tower has 21 stories and was completed in May 1924. Both towers together have a combined area of 453,433 square feet (42,125.3 square meters) and are connected by walkways on the ground and third floors. Another walkway was added between the 14th floors in 1931.
The south tower features a large clock on each side. All of the clock faces are 19 feet 7 inches (5.97 meters) in diameter.
Plaza of the Americas
Next to the Wrigley Building is the Plaza of the Americas. This small park, sitting on the Hubbard Street Pedestrian Overpass, contains the flags of all member nations of the Organization of American States (OAS). There’s also a statue of Benito Juárez (1806-1872).
Tribune Tower
The Tribune Tower is on the north side of Pioneer Court. It’s a 36-story neo-Gothic skyscraper built between 1923 and 1925 for the Chicago Tribune. The building’s architects were John Mead Howells (1868-1959) and Raymond Hood (1881-1934). They won an international design competition organized by the Chicago Tribune in 1922.
The main entrance features a statue of Nathan Hale (1755-1776) while the top of the tower is designed after the Rouen Cathedral in France.
The Tribune Tower was the home of Tribune Media (now part of Nexstar Medio Group) and WGN Radio until June 2018. WGN had a studio on the ground level with windows for passers-by to peer in.
The building has been redeveloped as a condo complex, the Tribune Tower Residences, and residents began moving in in 2021.
Landmark Fragments
The most interesting feature of the building is the nearly 150 fragments of famous buildings and historic landmarks from all over the world. They were brought back by correspondents at the request of Robert McCormick (1880-1955), the owner of the Chicago Tribune.
The fragments have been embedded into the lower levels of the building. They’re labeled with their original location and come from sites such as the Taj Mahal, Parthenon, Berlin Wall, Great Pyramid of Giza, the Great Wall of China, Hagia Sophia, and many more.
Hotel InterContinental (Former Medinah Athletic Club)
The next landmark along the Magnificent Mile is the Hotel InterContinental, which is one of the most fascinating buildings in Chicago. It sits a block north of the Tribune Tower at the corner of Illinois Street and Michigan Avenue.
The Hotel InterContinental was originally built as the Medinah Athletic Club by the Shriners Organization between November 1928 and August 1929. The club filed for bankruptcy in 1934 during the Great Depression, and sold the hotel to John Mack in 1944. Mack converted it into the Hotel Continental, which had 650 rooms.
Sheraton Hotels purchased the building in 1947 and added a second 26-story tower just north. It became a Radisson hotel in 1978, and returned to its old name, the Hotel Continental, in 1983. Finally, in November 1986, the building closed for a lengthy renovation, reopening as the InterContinental in March 1990.
The Hotel InterContinental has 42 stories and is topped by a golden dome. The façade is covered in Indiana limestone. Assyrian reliefs grace three sides of the building on the eighth floor. They were designed by George Unger and carved by Léon Hermant (1866-1936).
When the building opened, the Medinah Athletic Club featured a miniature golf course on the 23rd floor, a shooting range, billiards hall, running track, gymnasium, archery range, bowling alley, boxing arena, and a junior Olympic size swimming pool. There were also ballrooms, meeting rooms, and 440 guest rooms. All amenities were available for the exclusive use of the club’s 3,500 members and their guests.
Original Features of the Medinah Athletic Club
The Hotel InterContinental retains many of the original features of the Medinah Athletic Club. If you’d like to see these historic rooms, ask the concierge. They’re very happy to help and enthusiastic about the building. You’ll receive a sheet of paper with the building’s history and instructions on how to visit each historic room. They also offer a free audioguide but they were all in use at the time of my visit. The only room I wasn’t able to see was the Grand Ballroom because it was closed for a private event.
Johnny Weissmuller Pool
The most famous feature of the building is the Johnny Weissmuller Pool located on the 11th floor. At the time it was built, it was the highest indoor pool in the country. Olympic swimmer and Tarzan actor Johnny Weissmuller (1904-1984) would often train there.
The room contains two rows of seats on the western wall. The eastern wall is decorated with blue Spanish majolica tiles and a terra-cotta fountain of Neptune.
Spanish Court
The Spanish Court is on the fifth floor. It features a fountain, Spanish tiles, and ornate iron fixtures. There are Moorish elements in the design.
King Arthur Court
King Arthur Court, designed with a medieval theme, is located on the second and third floor. It was originally a men’s smoking lounge and is now used for special events.
King Arthur Court features heavy timbering and stained glass. There’s also a mural depicting the stories of King Arthur and Percival.
Allerton Hotel
The historic Allerton Hotel at the corner of Huron Street was built between 1922 and 1924. It was a trendy hotel that featured several social events. The famous lounge, Tip Top Tap, was on the top floor until it closed in 1961. It was frequented by stars such as Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Click here for a brief history.
Water Tower & Pumping Station
At Chicago Avenue, you’ll find the oldest remaining structures along the Magnificent Mile, both surviving the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The Water Tower and Pumping Station were built in 1869 and 1866 respectively.
The Water Tower is the second oldest of its kind in America. It stands 154 feet tall and was originally used to draw water up from Lake Michigan. It now houses a small art gallery for the Chicago Office of Tourism. The architectural design of the tower has inspired the logo for the White Castle chain. It’s said to be haunted.
The Chicago Avenue Pumping Station still fulfills its original purpose. It also holds a tourism info center and the Lookingglass Theatre.
Water Tower Place
Water Tower Place, one of the premier shopping malls along the Magnificent Mile, is located just north of the Pumping Station. It features over 100 shops and restaurants on eight levels. The attached tower stands 78 stories high and contains the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, condominiums, and office space.
Chicago Sports Museum
The Chicago Sports Museum is located on the seventh floor of Water Tower Place, attached to Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch. It’s an interactive museum highlighting the rich history of sports in Chicago. Adult admission is US$10 (as of September 2023) and it’s open daily. I haven’t had a chance to visit.
John Hancock Center
The famed John Hancock Center is one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in Chicago. It’s located along the Magnificent Mile between Chestnut and Delaware.
The John Hancock Center was built between 1965 and 1969. It was named for the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, an original tenant that moved out in 2018. When the building topped out on May 6, 1968, it was the second tallest building in the world after the Empire State Building in New York City. Today, this 100-story building is home to offices, restaurants, and private residences. It was officially renamed 875 North Michigan Avenue in 2018.
The John Hancock Center was designed by architects Bruce Graham (1925-2010) and Fazlur Rahman Khan (1929-1982) using the tubular system. The building’s signature x-braces allow for higher performance and the ability to open up the inside floorpan.
The John Hancock Center has a floor area of 2,799,973 square feet (260,126 square meters). There are 50 elevators that are among the fastest in the western hemisphere. Including the antennas, the building is 1,500 feet (457 meters) high. It’s currently the fifth tallest building in Chicago and the thirteenth tallest in the United States (as of September 2023).
360 Chicago
360 Chicago is an observatory on the 94th floor. It costs US$30 for adults and US$20 for children age three to 11 (as of September 2023) to go up. It’s open daily from 9am to 11pm. There are a few ticket packages available as well.
360 Chicago features TILT, a moving platform that leans visitors over the edge of the building at a 30° angle. It also has a full bar and interactive touchscreens available in six languages. In my opinion (and many others), 360 Chicago has the best views of the city.
Signature Room (Permanently Closed)
A different set of elevators can take you up to a restaurant and lounge on the 95th and 96th floors. The Signature Room on the 95th floor offers gourmet food and drinks with spectacular views. (Note: The Signature Room closed at the end of September 2023 after over 30 years of service.)
Signature Lounge (Permanently Closed)
The always crowded Signature Lounge on the 96th floor is a great place to meet friends for a (not cheap) drink. In my opinion, if you want to avoid the tourists at 360 and get virtually the same views, head up to the Signature Lounge.
Fourth Presbyterian Church
Across the street from the John Hancock Center is the Fourth Presbyterian Church. It was built in 1914 when this part of the city was largely undeveloped. The architect was Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942). It’s the oldest structure along the Magnificent Mile other than the Water Tower.
The original church burned down the same day it was dedicated, on the day the Great Chicago Fire started on October 8, 1871. A second church was built at Rush and Superior and dedicated in February 1874.
The peaceful cloister is a great place to visit. The parish house, cloister, manse, and garth, just to the south of the church, were designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw (1869-1926).
900 N. Michigan
At the corner of Delaware Street is 900 N. Michigan, another premium shopping mall along the Magnificent Mile. It features 70 luxury shops. The building was completed in 1989 and is 66 stories high. In addition to the shopping mall, it contains luxury condominiums, offices, a parking garage, and the Four Seasons Hotel.
Drake Hotel
At the north end of the Magnificent Mile at Walton Place is the Drake Hotel. It has been one of the finest luxury hotels in Chicago ever since it opened.
The legendary Drake Hotel was built in 1920 by Tracy Drake (1864-1939) and John Drake Jnr. (1872-1964), who purchased the property from the estate of developer Potter Palmer (1826-1902) in 1916. The building was designed by Marshall and Fox in the Italian Renaissance style. It has 535 rooms and features a 6-room Presidential Suite, 2 ballrooms, and a members-only club. Hilton acquired the hotel in 1996.
The Drake Hotel has hosted presidents, monarchs, foreign heads of state, and celebrities since it opened. Presidents include Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962). King Charles III (as Prince Charles), Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince Felix Yusupov of Russia (1887-1967), and King Hussein of Jordan are among the royals who have stayed there. Foreign heads of state Winston Churchill (1874-1965), Jawaharlal Nehru of India (1889-1964), and Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine were all welcomed at the Drake. Finally, celebrities Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011), Judy Garland (1922-1969), Hugh Hefner (1926-2017), Walt Disney (1901-1966), Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), Dean Martin (1917-1995), Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974), and Julia Roberts enjoyed at least a night at the hotel.
Palm Court
The Palm Court is located in the lobby and decorated in white. It serves the most famous afternoon tea in the city and one of the best in the country. Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II have both enjoyed tea there. Tea is served in individual pots along with an assortment of finger sandwiches and pastries. Reservations are highly recommended for the 90-minute event.
Coq d’Or
The Drake’s lounge, Coq d’Or, was the second establishment in Chicago to obtain a liquor license after Prohibition ended in 1933. Its specials include pre-prohibition and modern cocktails as well as the Bookbinder’s Red Snapper Soup.
Cape Cod Room (Permanently Closed)
The Cape Cod Room, a seafood restaurant, opened in 1933 and was a city favorite until it closed on December 31, 2016. Joe DiMaggio (1914-1999) and Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) famously carved their names into the wooden bar when they visited the restaurant, and that piece of history has been preserved by the hotel.
Shopping
Finally, there are luxury shops located on the ground floor. They all have street presence along Michigan Avenue as well as in the retail corridor on the ground floor.
Where to Eat along and around the Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile features many great best restaurants both along the street and within a block or two. This post includes only a couple restaurants I’ve visited since 2017. If I visited a restaurant before 2017, I’ll go back on a future trip to Chicago and add it here.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
I’m not exactly a big fan of Starbucks coffee, but I was truly impressed by the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. It sits on the west side of the Magnificent Mile at Erie Street.
When the Starbucks Reserve Roastery opened in November 2019, it was the largest Starbucks in the world. It features five stories dedicated to not only the coffee experience, but also freshly baked goods and tea and coffee inspired cocktails. There’s even a rooftop terrace on the fifth floor.
In addition to all the delicious goodies available, visitors can book a private tour or experience as well as reserve the space for a private event.
I’ve had some delicious pastries and croissants as well as an amazing eggs in purgatory for breakfast. The coffee is, well, Starbucks – so don’t get too excited about it.
Ron of Japan
Ron of Japan is a Japanese teppanyaki steakhouse. The restaurant is located on Ontario Street in Streeterville, about two blocks east of the Magnificent Mile on the Near North Side. Its beginnings date back to 1968 when a couple from Chicago traveled to Japan and met chef Ron Shimosawa at his new restaurant in Osaka. They formed a partnership and opened the restaurant two years later.
We had a great dining experience at Ron of Japan, with excellent service and a chef who was friendly and entertaining. Our chef made sure to let us know when to take a video of his skills and was quick to crack a joke.
We started with a bowl of soup followed by a salad. The chef then prepared a delicious shrimp appetizer and beef fried rice. Everyone in our part of five had steak as their main course, which was served with vegetables. The steak was cooked to perfection. Ice cream was served after dinner. Prices were reasonable for the quality of both the food and entertainment.
Ron of Japan remains popular with families and groups, especially for celebrating special events. Reservations are recommended on weekends. Personally, I have some good memories from visiting this restaurant since I was a kid, and will continue to enjoy it as long as its around.
