Navy Pier

Navy Pier at dusk.

Navy Pier at dusk as seen from John Hancock Center

Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot (1,010 m) long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million; it was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and city planner Daniel Burnham and his associates. As Municipal Pier #2 (Municipal Pier #1 was never built), Navy Pier was planned and built to serve as a mixed-purpose piece of public infrastructure. Its primary purpose was as a cargo facility for lake freighters, and warehouses were built up and down the pier. However, the pier was also designed to provide docking space for passenger excursion steamers, and in the pre-air conditioning era parts of the pier, especially its outermost tip, were designed to serve as cool places for public gathering and entertainment. The pier even had its own streetcar. It was known as a romantic spot for young lovers.

First use: as a pier

Even as Chicago Municipal Pier was being built, the invention of mass-produced cars and trucks was beginning to wreak havoc on the package freight and passenger steamboat industries of Lake Michigan. The pier proved to be much more successful as a public gathering place. During the 1950s, it is estimated that an average of 3.2 million visitors frequented the pier annually, with peak attendance for the "Pageant of Progress." This decade is sometimes called the pier's "Golden Age." The use of the pier for serious marine purposes reached a temporary peak during World War II, when the city leased the pier to the U.S. Navy. The Navy's air group training arm made the pier a quay for a pair of converted flattops, the U.S.S. Wolverine and the USS Sable (IX-81), which were used as freshwater trainee carriers. At this time, 60,000 sailors as well as 15,000 pilots including future President George H. W. Bush, used this area for training. In honor of this service, Chicago Municipal Pier's name was changed to Navy Pier.

Second use: as a college classroom

With the war over, Navy Pier went to the University of Illinois, which used the facility beginning in 1946 for a two-year undergraduate program to educate returning veterans [1]. During its University of Illinois days, Navy Pier was also the site of a string of public events. The International Exhibitions of the early 1960s drew attractions from around the world, including circus and folkloric dance acts, arts and crafts, and international cuisine. In 1965, the University moved to the Chicago Circle campus, and the pier again fell into disuse.

Third use: as a public gathering place

From 1965-1989, Navy Pier was considered an underutilized eyesore. No government agency in or around Chicago wanted to invest money in it. Many advocates, inspired by the Plan of Chicago and the pier's successful use as a public gathering place in the 1920s, called for its reconstruction. In 1976, Navy Pier began its third life as an area for public exhibits, when the East Buildings (furthest into Lake Michigan) were opened as exhibition halls. Special events including music and arts festivals began to draw crowds to the pier despite its aging infrastructure.

From 1979 to 2004 a submarine, the USS Silversides, was docked at Navy Pier. In 1989, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority took control over the pier. Major renovation and construction followed in the 1990s at a cost of $200 million (USD). As rebuilt in the 1990s, the pier's current layout includes fast-food kiosks, shops, a ballroom, a concert stage, and convention exhibition halls. Centerpiece attractions include a 150-foot (46 m)-tall Ferris wheel, an IMAX theater, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Chicago Children's Museum, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, and at the entrance to Navy Pier is a statue of Oak Park comedian Bob Newhart, sponsored by TV Land. The pier now features a large front lawn showcasing numerous larger-than-life public art sculptures and an interactive dancing fountain. It continues to be used as an embarkation point for tour and excursion boats. One of its most popular yearly attraction is the tall ships Venetian Night festival. The pier and its grounds encompass more than 50 acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants and other slore entertainment. Navy Pier contains 170,000 total square feet of exhibition space, 50,000 square feet (5,000 m²) of reception space and 48,000 square feet (4,500 m²) of meeting room space.

Future plans

On January 13, 2006, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the government agency which runs Navy Pier, released plans for a major renovation of the pier which would include a monorail, a 260-foot (79 m) spokeless Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, floating hotel, and an 80,000-square-foot (7,000 m²) water park with a Great Lakes theme. The plan would include 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.^{[1] [2]}

Gallery

Navy Pier as seen from the shore	Navy Pier as seen from the John Hancock Center	The Ferris wheel at Navy Pier	Image taken from Ferris wheel
Navy Pier as seen from a sight-seeing boat	Navy Pier as seen from the Aon Building	Navy Pier from above	Navy Pier from the Lake Guardian
Panorama image of Navy Pier	Navy Pier as seen from the convergence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan	A view walking in an easterly direction on the south side of Navy pier	Giant Wheel of Navy Pier
Carousel, one of many amusement options at Navy Pier

External links

• Navy Pier official site
• Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier
• IMAX Theater on Navy Pier
• Photos of Navy Pier at Night
• 3D Google Earth Model
• Navy Pier is at coordinates 41°53′30″N 87°36′17″W / 41.89172, -87.604616Coordinates: 41°53′30″N 87°36′17″W / 41.89172, -87.604616

References

1. ^ Rummana Hussain More flash proposed for Navy Pier Chicago Sun TimesJanuary 142006
2. ^ Forrec Ltd. press release detailing proposed expansion.

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