Millennium Park
Overview
Millennium Park stands between Michigan Ave. and the waterfront in the heart of Chicago. For many, this park is also Chicago's heart. It represents over twenty-five years of lobbying by the philanthropic community and its eventual collaboration with the City of Chicago to construct. Now, Millennium Park is a major Chicago landmark.
Visitors to Millennium Park will enjoy the wide, grassy spaces and the modern sculptures and design. Many Chicagoans find the park a relaxing place to picnic, read, play Frisbee, or listen to music.
Arguably, the most iconic image of Millennium Park is Anish Kapoor's enormous Cloud Gate sculpture. However, ask a native for directions to the Cloud Gate sculpture and he'll give you a funny look. In Chicago this reflective, organic, and interactive art work is known as The Bean. Cloud Gate does look like a giant kidney bean. Its entire surface is polished to a mirror shine and as you walk around The Bean you will be treated to a fantasia of views on the Chicago skyline.
Crown Fountain, by Jaume Plensa, is another innovative piece of public art. Across a concrete and block glass courtyard are two large towers. During the summer water rolls down and around these towers and gives sun-soaked tourists a chance to cool off. However, the innovation comes when you put your face in a small box located at the bottom of each tower. Suddenly, on the front of the tower is a giant picture of your head.
Millennium Park also has a state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. On most summer nights you can come out to Millennium Park and listen to music under the stars.
Visitors to Millennium Park will enjoy the wide, grassy spaces and the modern sculptures and design. Many Chicagoans find the park a relaxing place to picnic, read, play Frisbee, or listen to music.
Arguably, the most iconic image of Millennium Park is Anish Kapoor's enormous Cloud Gate sculpture. However, ask a native for directions to the Cloud Gate sculpture and he'll give you a funny look. In Chicago this reflective, organic, and interactive art work is known as The Bean. Cloud Gate does look like a giant kidney bean. Its entire surface is polished to a mirror shine and as you walk around The Bean you will be treated to a fantasia of views on the Chicago skyline.
Crown Fountain, by Jaume Plensa, is another innovative piece of public art. Across a concrete and block glass courtyard are two large towers. During the summer water rolls down and around these towers and gives sun-soaked tourists a chance to cool off. However, the innovation comes when you put your face in a small box located at the bottom of each tower. Suddenly, on the front of the tower is a giant picture of your head.
Millennium Park also has a state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. On most summer nights you can come out to Millennium Park and listen to music under the stars.