Navy Pier facts for kids
Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot-long (1,010 m) pier on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Navy Pier encompasses over 50 acres (20 ha) of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibition facilities and is one of the top destinations in the Midwestern United States/ It draws over nine million visitors annually and is one of the most visited attractions in the entire Midwest and is Chicago's second-most visited tourist attraction.
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History
The pier was built in 1916 by Charles Sumner Frost, a nationally known architect. It cost $4.5 million. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and city planner Daniel Burnham and his partners.
In 1927, the pier was renamed Navy Pier to honor the naval veterans who served in World War I.
In 1941, during World War II, the pier became a training center for the United States Navy; about 10,000 people worked, trained and lived there. The pier contained a 2,500-seat theater, gym, 12-chair barber shop, tailor, cobbler shops, soda fountain and a vast kitchen and hospital.
The University of Illinois at Chicago held classes at the pier (years 1946-1965). After the university left, the Navy Pier became underutilized. In 1995, Navy Pier was redesigned and introduced to the public as a mixed-use venue incorporating retail, dining, entertainment and cultural spaces. Its further redevelopment sterted in 2006 and is still ongoing.
Attractions
There are many outdoor attractions at the Navy Pier Park, such as the Pepsi Wave Swinger, Light Tower Ride, Remote Control Boats(now removed along with fountain around the Wave Swinger), Teacups and the Carousel. New for 2021 is Drop Tower, an S&S Double Shot relocated from the closed Pleasure Island.
Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze is on the pier. Crystal Gardens is a one-acre, botanical garden inside the pier. It is a six-story glass atrium with a 50-foot arched ceiling.
The Chicago Children's Museum is a part of the pier, with many different exhibits and activities for both children and adults to enjoy.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, a theater that performs Shakespeare's productions, is located there. The pier also houses an IMAX theater that opened in 1995, featuring a 60 by 80 foot screen in an auditorium with 395 seats, though operator AMC Theatres announced in March 2021 that the theater was permanently closed.
The original Ferris wheel was retired on September 27, 2015. The new Ferris Wheel was unveiled on May 27, 2016.
Events and art
Navy Pier hosts sightseeing tours. There are also dinner cruises by Entertainment Cruises on their ships the Spirit of Chicago, Odyssey II, and Mystic Blue. The pier has fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday nights during the summer and Saturday nights during the fall.
Navy Pier hosts the Fifth Third Bank Winter Wonderfest from December through January.
Many outdoor art installations are displayed on the pier. The anchor from the naval vessel USS Chicago (CA-136/CG-11) is on display at the far end. Other installations include a statue of actor Bob Newhart on a couch as seen on The Bob Newhart Show, the Captain On The Helm statue dedicated to maritime captains, and the Crack the Whip sculpture of eight children at play holding hands by J. Seward Johnson Jr.
The Festival Halls can be used for sporting events. Festival Halls A and B can be turned into a 170,000 square foot competition arena. Gymnastics meets have been held in the Festival Halls.
Images for kids
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During construction, 1915 (Chicago Daily News)
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Navy Pier in November 2015
