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Chicago, IL

Summary of Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)

photo by rob

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)

233 S Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60606
312-875-9696

More than 1.5 million tourists each year make the pilgrimage to glimpse this massive bronze-tinted glass and aluminum building, which can be seen from anywhere in Chicago. A downtown icon, the Willis Tower (it’ll always be the Sears Tower to us!) is the tallest building in North America, and the Sky Deck is a must-stop for any visitor to the Windy City. Tackle your fear of heights and board the high-speed elevator to the highest observatory in Chicago, located a staggering 1353 feet above ground. Floor-to-ceiling windows boast a seemingly endless view of the sprawling city below with visibility of 40-50 miles. On a clear day, the soaring views reach into 4 states, while the traffic below resembles toy cars. Walk the entire deck for a complete wrap-around city view, including the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. If you can take your eyes off of the jaw-dropping view, check out the fun and informative interactive kiosks and museum-quality displays of Chicago history. You’ll learn interesting tidbits, including the fact that it took 3 years to build the tower, which weighs a hefty 222,500 tons, and sways up to 6 inches to withstand Chicago’s brutal winds. The best way to beat the crowds is by visiting the Sky Deck after 4 p.m. A convenient place to nosh, the building’s restaurant level features several sit-down restaurants as well as a food court, offering everything from New York deli-style sandwiches to Italian to Mexican fare.

Reviews

Sears tower

Reviewed by jubjub1234 on July 28, 2008

jubjub1234's rating:

"A beautiful sightseeing area. it's so beautiful to go at night plus also very romantic. At night maybe around 8ish all u see in the tower is Chicago's amazing light. In the tower usually around this time there are family and couples looking out."

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Interesting, but long lines

Reviewed by caparsons on October 23, 2007

caparsons' rating:

"Took forever to get to the top due to long lines. Views were nice, but probably would have been much more dramatic at night. Lines might have been shorter too."

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Who are you standing on top of the world?

Reviewed by rob on July 13, 2006

rob's rating:

"We enjoyed a tremendous view atop America’s tallest skyscraper. I felt anxious and ready to get down, though. It seems unnatural up there. I appreciated the 15-minute orientation and history video that you are obliged to watch before mounting the elevators. According to this account, the two principal architects were sitting in a bar discussing what the Sears Tower should be when one of them hit upon the clustered cylinder idea and illustrated it by pulling out his pack of Pall Malls and tapping out a cluster of cigarettes. I imagine the Pall Mall in his gin-slick lips teetered in agreement as he enthused about this skyscraper idea. I didn’t get to read the history board on the Sky Deck because I had my two-year-old. The security guard let Gibson get beyond the railing right up to the glass, though. We watched the trains and the canal barges and looked out across Lake Michigan."

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