Some free things to do to complete your visit to Chicago
Buckingham Fountain: 301 S. Columbus Drive, right on the Lake front. Be careful on windy days as the center fountain shoots 150’ into the air. chicagoparkdistrict.com
Chicago Cultural Center: 78 E. Washington St (at Michigan Avenue). A beautiful beaux arts building with Tiffany mosaics in the 4th floor Preston Bradley Hall. cityofchicago.org
Columbia College Chicago:
- Center for Book and Paper Arts (1104 S Wabash – just 6 city blocks south from the conference center) This is an educational department of Columbia College Chicago but has exhibition/gallery space of likely interest to anyone who loves books. info
- Museum of Contemporary Photography (600 S Michigan – a few steps from the conference center down Harrison Street to Michigan Avenue) mocp.org
Millenium Park: Information – 201 E Randolph (between Michigan Ave. & Columbus Drive, opp. Chicago Cultural Center – see above) choosechicago.com
- Lurie Garden botanical gardens which should be ablaze with color by June.
- BP Bridge designed by Frank Gehry
The famous owls atop the Harold Washington Library
Navy Pier: 600 E. Grand Avenue - Includes the Dreihaus Gallery of Stained Glass displaying glass windows saved from old Chicago homes. navypier.com
Newberry Library: 60 W Walton in the Gold Coast. (CTA Red Line from Harrison – adjacent to conference center - north to Clark/Division). This is a humanities research library which often has exhibits on the first floor, open to the public at no charge. newberry.org
Rookery Building Lobby (architects Burnham and Root) 209 S. LaSalle St. Look for the interior flying staircases. The inner atrium also has a small museum. therookerybuilding.com
Water Tower: City Gallery: 806 N. Michigan Ave. This is about 2 miles north of the conference center in the middle of the famed Golden Mile, shopping district. Oscar Wilde said it looked like "a castellated monstrosity with pepper boxes stuck all over it” but Chicagoans love it anyway. cityofchicago.org
…and worth considering
Archicenter offers both walking and river cruises of Chicago’s architectural heritage. architecture.org
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) offers 3 day passes info
Taxis or Uber cars are readily available. Distances where shown are from the Conference Chicago at University Center, conferencechicagouc.com (State and Congress) Nearest subway is Harrison St on the Red Line. Harrison St forms the southern boundary) of the conference center.)
…or simply enjoy a stroll down to the lake shore due east of the University Center. This is accessible on foot through the park and beyond Columbus Drive.
Thank you to Chicagoan Michael Jackson for this insider info.