Neighborhood News: On a clear day Willis Tower’s Skydeck showcases Chicago’s panoramic vista, interactive museum
As spring arrives, with longer days, better weather, and the urge for adventure returns…where, on a clear day, can you find jaw-dropping views of the City of Chicago, the suburbs and four states?
From the Skydeck and The Ledge on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive, that’s where! It’s listed as the highest observation deck in the United States, and offers a full day of entertainment for all who venture there.
Skydeck’s History
According to its website, in 1969, Sears Roebuck and Company was the largest retailer in the world, with about 350,000 employees. They decided they needed one large office space for their many employees.
Architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill were commissioned to design what would become one of the largest office buildings in the world. Fazlur Khan, the structural engineer, designed the “bundled tube” design that handled both wind and gravity.
The Skydeck was part of the original plan for the Tower, which opened in 1973. Sears had originally planned it as a way “to give back to the city and provide visitors with an unparalleled view of Chicago.” The Skydeck opened in 1974, and now attracts more than 1.7 million visitors annually. It’s now ranked as the most popular tourist attraction in Chicago.
The structure was known as the Sears Tower from its construction until the naming rights were included in a 2009 lease with the Willis Group.
Step Out On The Ledge!
The inspiration for The Ledge, the glass-floor observation box, according to its website, came from “the hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind on Skydeck windows every week. “
Named a Tripadvisor.com World’s Top 10 Attraction, ‘The Ledge’ includes five glass floor balconies extending 4.3 feet from Willis Tower and stand 1,353 feet above Wacker Drive. They’re made up of three layers of half-inch thick glass laminated into one seamless unit.
Now, Skydeck “dares visitors to stand on ‘The Ledge’ and feel the city hum from 103 floors above Wacker Drive and the Chicago River for a unique, unobstructed, and unforgettable aerial view of Chicago.”
After undergoing extensive renovations a while back, Skydeck Chicago now also features an interactive, immersive world-class museum that celebrates the unique personality, history, neighborhoods and sites of Chicago and a new Skydeck Marketplace.
Tour the Museum!
At the Museum, visitors discover the history of Chicago, encounter the Great Chicago Fire, and walk through a glowing Chicago River tunnel, all while learning about the city during its formative years. Other features include:
Architecture: This section showcases an interactive fly-through video tour of the city known for its skyline, ending at the Willis Tower. Guests will then have the chance to pose next to floor-to-ceiling Tower antennas to capture the perfect social media shot.
‘L’ Train: Visitors can hop aboard a full-scale ‘L’ train replica and tour a plethora of vibrant Chicago neighborhoods by viewing the windows’ pass-through video displays.
Taste of Chicago: Here, visitors can strike a pose on the larger-than-life deep-dish pizza platform or grab a seat on the nine-foot long, Chicago-style hotdog bench.
Characters: Guests will have the opportunity to tell jokes on a Second City stage and pose with Chicago icons, such as Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey.
Streetscapes: This section allows visitors to connect with some of the city’s landmarks, including the legendary Wrigley Field marquee, Cloud Gate (The Bean) and more.
Urban Playground: This vibrant area immerses visitors into the city through animations of Chicago moments and celebrations, leaving a lasting impression of what makes the energetic metropolis so extraordinary.
The transformation on the 103rd floor observation deck includes an Interactive sequin wall where guests are invited to leave a mark on the city through creating drawings or messages.
Make a day of it with Lunch and Dinner Packages at Willis Tower Restaurants
How about lunch, happy hour, sunset, or dinner with a view? Skip the hassle of figuring out when and where to go to lunch or dinner after visiting Skydeck by ordering a package of great activities and food:
- Enjoy a prix fixe lunch or dinner after experiencing the views from the 103rd floor.
- Choose from Not A Smash Burger, the Hearth Bowl, or another restaurant in Willis Tower. The $65 adult/$45 youth lunch package, for example, includes:
- General Admission access through the museum and the United States’ highest observation deck
- Access to The Ledge
The Skydeck and The Ledge are open 365 days a year. From March – September, their hours are Sunday to Friday 9am – 10pm, and Saturday, 8:30am – 10pm. The last entry 30 minutes prior to close. For tickets, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
