Chicago Theatre, Chicago (must see)
The unmistakable vertical "CHICAGO" sign and marquee of the Chicago Theatre are impossible to overlook, as is its façade, which draws inspiration from the iconic Triumphal Arch in Paris. This building ranks among the city's most frequently photographed structures and earned the moniker "the Wonder Theatre of the World" upon its grand opening in 1921. Constructed immediately after the devastating Great Fire, it mimics the style and materials of the destroyed buildings, having one of the Loop's last surviving cast-iron facades (a feature that fell out of favor due to its susceptibility to heat, which could cause it to collapse along with the masonry walls it supports).
However, the Chicago Theatre is renowned primarily for its sumptuous interior, adorned with exquisite murals, crystal chandeliers, and bronze light fixtures. The entire lobby is a homage to the Royal Chapel at Versailles, featuring a grand staircase modeled after the Paris Opera House, gracefully ascending to the mezzanine and balcony levels. The auditorium, with a seating capacity of 3,800, offers exceptional sightlines, owing to the uniquely shaped site.
During its early years, the theater screened silent films accompanied by live orchestras and the in-house Wurlitzer theatre organ. Today, it hosts a wide array of performances, including post-Broadway plays, musicals, concerts, and comedy shows. Visitors can partake in informative tours that provide insights into the baroque interior, allow them to stand on the same stage graced by legendary entertainers like John Philip Sousa, Duke Ellington, Ellen DeGeneres, and Beyoncé, and even offer backstage access, where autographed walls bear testament to the venue's rich history.
However, the Chicago Theatre is renowned primarily for its sumptuous interior, adorned with exquisite murals, crystal chandeliers, and bronze light fixtures. The entire lobby is a homage to the Royal Chapel at Versailles, featuring a grand staircase modeled after the Paris Opera House, gracefully ascending to the mezzanine and balcony levels. The auditorium, with a seating capacity of 3,800, offers exceptional sightlines, owing to the uniquely shaped site.
During its early years, the theater screened silent films accompanied by live orchestras and the in-house Wurlitzer theatre organ. Today, it hosts a wide array of performances, including post-Broadway plays, musicals, concerts, and comedy shows. Visitors can partake in informative tours that provide insights into the baroque interior, allow them to stand on the same stage graced by legendary entertainers like John Philip Sousa, Duke Ellington, Ellen DeGeneres, and Beyoncé, and even offer backstage access, where autographed walls bear testament to the venue's rich history.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Chicago Theatre on Map
Sight Name: Chicago Theatre
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois
Create Your Own Walk in Chicago
Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Loop District Architecture Walking Tour
Chicago features an outstanding architectural legacy, having long been connected with some of architecture's most important names: Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, Holabird & Root, and others. The multi-layered Loop District, in particular, offers an extensive number of Chicago’s famous architectural “must-sees” – from modern skyscrapers to historic buildings... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture Tour in Oak Park
Oak Park, located in Cook County, Illinois, just outside Chicago, made history in 1889 when Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America's most renowned architects, and his wife settled there, leaving a profound impact on the area's appearance. This village boasts the highest concentration of Wright-crafted buildings in the world - over a dozen! - making it a pivotal destination for enthusiasts to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Magnificent Mile Walking Tour
The stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lake Shore Drive, otherwise known as the Magnificent Mile, is regarded as one of the world’s great avenues – or Chicago’s version of Fifth Avenue. Take this self-guided walk to explore its whole stretch and surrounding area, featuring a wide selection of amazing stores/malls, world-known museums, restaurants and spectacular... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Chicago Navy Pier Walking Tour
Additional to scenic views of the lake, the boats, and the city skyline, the Navy Pier offers a variety of attractions on the waterfront – for kids as well as adults – that draw nearly ten million people annually, making this Chicago's most visited spot. Yes, some may see it as a “tourist trap”, but it is worth the time and money to spend some time here, so take this self-guided walk... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Chicago Introduction Walking Tour
Chicago, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois, is a city steeped in history and urban vibrancy. Known by numerous nicknames such as the Windy City and the City of Big Shoulders, it boasts a skyline marked by towering structures. The area of today's Chicago, initially inhabited by Native American tribes, saw its first European-settled reference as "Chicagou" in 1679, a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
University of Chicago Walking Tour
Founded in 1890, the University of Chicago is among the world’s most prestigious educational institutions. As of 2020, the University’s students, faculty and staff have included 100 Nobel laureates, giving it the fourth-most affiliated Nobel laureates of any university.
Set in the heart of Chicago’s famous eclectic neighborhood, Hyde Park, the campus is worth a visit as it offers a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Set in the heart of Chicago’s famous eclectic neighborhood, Hyde Park, the campus is worth a visit as it offers a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Chicago Souvenirs: 15 Distinct Local Products to Bring Home
One of the most fascinating cities in the U.S., if not the whole world, Chicago has no shortage of things closely associated with it, often due to their direct origin (blues, gangstership, etc.), so one might literally be spoiled for choice as to what to choose as a "piece" of Chicago to...