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Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Place #1
Distance: 0.00mi , Attraction : Train Station, Historic Landmark
Map Pin
Jackson & Canal, S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
POI 1 Tour Image
Chicago Union Station
Alright, welcome to your first stop: Chicago Union Station, coming up on our left,
one of the great railroad terminals of America and a true Chicago landmark.

This Beaux-Arts beauty opened in 1925, built on the vision of famed architect Daniel Burnham, the same mastermind behind Chicago’s 1909 Plan that shaped much of the city’s modern layout.

Interesting fact:
Daniel Burnham didn’t actually live to see his masterpiece come to life. The terminal was completed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, after his death.
But, his philosophy of - “Make no little plans”, clearly lives on in this impressive structure,
there’s nothing little about this place.

If you have a chance to step inside the Great Hall, please do.
The soaring 115-foot barrel-vaulted skylight, the marble columns, the sweeping staircases, it feels more like a Roman bathhouse or a European palace than a train station.
At its peak during World War II, Union Station handled hundreds of thousands of passengers a day, sending troops off to war and welcoming them home again.


Now, Chicago itself was built on transportation. This city grew fast in the 19th century thanks to railroads, shipping, and its strategic location between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system.

After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the city rebuilt bigger, stronger, and more ambitious, and Union Station reflects that spirit.


Movie fans might feel a sense of déjà vu here.
The dramatic staircase scene with the baby carriage in The Untouchables was filmed right inside this station.
You may also spot it in films like The Fugitive and Public Enemies. Directors love this space for its scale and timeless drama.

Just imagine,
this place was here, in the midst of Prohibition in the late 1920s and early 1930s,
while notorious figures, like Al Capone, might have brushed shoulders with everyday commuters.


Today, it’s one of Amtrak’s busiest stations and a major commuter hub.
Nearly a century later, it remains exactly what Chicago has always been:
a gateway city, where journeys begin,
end,
and sometimes change direction entirely.

Read More

  https://www.amtrak.com/stations/chi
Place #2
Distance: 0.38mi , Attraction : Skyscraper, Observation Deck
Map Pin
240 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
POI 3 Tour Image
Willis Tower
Now look left and lift your eyes to one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the world, Willis Tower.

We'll be taking the next left, circling the tower, while I tell you some interesting stories.


Completed in 1973 as "Sears Tower",
it was built for retail giant Sears Roebuck and Company.
At the time, Sears was the largest retailer on the planet, and wanted a headquarters that reflected that dominance.
The result,
The tallest building in the world,
a title it held for nearly 25 years.

Designed by the legendary firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill, the tower introduced the revolutionary “bundled tube” system.
Instead of a single vertical shaft, it’s essentially nine square tubes bundled together,
allowing it to rise higher while staying stable against Chicago’s winds.

At 1,450 feet tall, 110 stories up, it redefined what a skyscraper could be. In a city that invented the skyscraper after the Great Fire of 1871, that’s saying something.


You might want to visit the Skydeck on the 103rd floor, with views of up to four states on a clear day.
And, if you’re feeling brave, step onto - “The Ledge",
those glass boxes extending out over the street more than 1,300 feet below. It’s a thrill.


Officially renamed as Willis Tower in 2009,
many locals still call it “Sears".
Around here, some names just stick.

Read More

  https://www.skydeck.com/?utm_source=UCPlaces.com
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour

Map Pin Place 1 Chicago Union Station
Map Pin Place 2 Willis Tower
Map Pin Place 3 City Hall
Map Pin Place 4 Daley Plaza
Map Pin Place 5 The Rookery Building
Map Pin Place 6 Chicago Board of Trade Building
Map Pin Place 7 The Spearman & The Bowman
Map Pin Place 8 Grant Park's Buckingham Fountain
Map Pin Place 9 The Art Institute of Chicago
Map Pin Place 10 The Bean in Millennium Park
Map Pin Place 11 Chicago Cultural Center
Map Pin Place 12 The Chicago Theatre
Map Pin Place 13 Chicago Riverwalk
Map Pin Place 14 The Wrigley Building
Map Pin Place 15 Navy Pier
Map Pin Place 16 Magnificent Mile
Map Pin Place 17 Chicago Water Tower
Map Pin Place 18 875 North Michigan Avenue
Map Pin Place 19 Free Urban Zoo
Map Pin Place 20 Wrigley Field



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UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms.
Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
  • No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
  • Walk at your own pace.
  • No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
  • Take the tour in your preferred language.
  • Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
  • Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
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What's included?
  • A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [Android / iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay].
  • Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
  • Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
  • Apple CarPlay connection (for iOS users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
  • Earphones (highly recommended).
  • Smartphone.
  • Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).
  • Tickets to the attractions on your tour.
  • Food and drinks
  • Physical tour guide.