Things to do nearWillis Tower

Completed in 1973, Willis Tower held the title of the world's tallest building for nearly 25 years, a distinction that cemented its place in both architectural history and the popular imagination. Designed by the firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the tower introduced a bundled-tube structural system that allowed it to reach 1,451 feet without the mass of steel a conventional frame would have required. This engineering innovation influenced skyscraper design around the world and remains a subject of study for architects and engineers today.

Visitors arrive at the Skydeck Chicago on the 103rd floor, where on exceptionally clear days the view extends to Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Iowa. The glass Ledge boxes that project four feet beyond the building's facade offer a genuinely vertiginous perspective, looking straight down at the streets and rooftops far below. The surrounding West Loop and Loop neighborhoods offer excellent dining, from deep-dish pizzerias to acclaimed contemporary restaurants, making it easy to build a full day around a Skydeck visit.

Guided architectural tours of Chicago frequently include Willis Tower as a centerpiece, placing its design within the broader story of the city's role in shaping modern urban architecture after the Great Fire of 1871. The building's lobby features exhibits on its history and construction, giving context to what visitors experience before they ever reach the upper floors. For anyone interested in how cities grow upward and how human ambition takes physical form in steel and glass, Willis Tower remains one of the most rewarding places in the United States to spend an afternoon.