Chicago’s Four

The four emblematic buildings, an iconic view of Chicago

From this bridge over the Chicago River, the view is simply iconic. It is framed by four emblematic buildings erected in the 1920s, which form one of the most photographed urban compositions of the city. The Chicago audio-guided tour stops here to decipher this skyscraper setting full of history.

Four skyscrapers of the 1920s

At the four corners of the bridge stand four 1920s buildings, including 333 North Michigan, the London Guarantee Building, the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower. The latter is famous for the fragments of monuments from around the world, such as Notre-Dame de Paris, the Parthenon or the Great Wall of China, embedded in its façade. Together, these towers tell the golden age of Chicago architecture.

What to see

The bridge offers an ideal vantage point to admire these four skyscrapers and the Chicago River that separates them. Each building has its style and its history, from the neo-Gothic outline of the Tribune Tower to the elegance of the Wrigley Building. It is one of the finest viewpoints on the city's architecture, to be savoured by day and at nightfall.

Practical information

This viewpoint lies on the Michigan Avenue bridge spanning the Chicago River, in the centre of Chicago, reachable on foot. It is a public space, freely accessible at all times, with no ticket office. On the level, it offers one of the best panoramas of the skyscrapers; as traffic can be heavy, it is best to observe from the pavements.

What are the four emblematic buildings of Chicago?

Four 1920s skyscrapers framing the bridge over the river, including 333 North Michigan, the London Guarantee Building, the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower.

What is special about the Tribune Tower?

Its neo-Gothic façade is embedded with fragments of famous monuments from around the world, such as Notre-Dame de Paris, the Parthenon or the Great Wall of China.