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Historic Navy Pier is a prime leisure and tourist destination in the Midwestern US, welcoming nearly nine million visitors annually. Navy Pier has enjoyed a remarkable evolution. Originally designed for shipping and recreational purposes, the facility has evolved into a premiere entertainment center while also offering exposition facilities. Over the years, Navy Pier has faced numerous challenges and changes as it moves towards its 100th anniversary in 2016.
In 1909, Daniel Burnham created the "Master Plan of Chicago" which originally envisioned five piers. Eventually, only one 1.5 mile (2.4 km.) long recreational pier with freight and passenger ship docking facilities was commissioned to be built near the mouth of the Chicago River. By 1914 construction began on Municipal Pier and was completed in 1916.
World War I interrupted the commercial plans as the Pier was occupied by soldiers, Red Cross, Home Defense and barracks for recruits. In the 1920’s, after the War, the Pier was a focus of recreational and cultural activity. In one 15-day event, almost a million visitors frequented the Pier. A streetcar line, theatre, restaurants, a hospital and a radio station served the Pier while freight and passenger traffic continued to grow. The pier was renamed Navy Pier as a tribute to Navy personnel who served there during WW I. By the end of the 1920’s freight and passenger traffic declined due to the increased use of trucks and the personal automobile as well as the Stock Market crash and Great Depression.
During the 1930’s, the Pier housed several New Deal agencies. While freight and passenger traffic continued to decline, cultural and recreational activity continued on the Pier.
In 1942, as part of the US response to WW 2, the Pier served as a training centre for pilots, machinists, metal smiths and diesel engine technicians. By the time, the Navy ceased operations in 1946, over 60,000 servicemen from the US, UK, Canada, Brazil and Peru were trained at Navy Pier.
The University of Illinois assumed the Navy facilities, transforming it into a two-year undergraduate campus until 1965. The main mess hall became an enormous library. During the 1950’s, Navy Pier was one of the major convention/trade show venues in Chicago. By 1965, Navy Pier saw a renewal in freight and passenger traffic and cultural/recreational activity.
However, the University of Illinois moved to another location and by the early 1970’s, Navy Pier fell into disuse and languished for more than a decade. Despite being designated by City Hall as a Chicago landmark and a renovation to its Grand Ballroom, it did not provide sustaining activities.
In 1989, the Illinois General Assembly created the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority to manage McCormick Place (a major exposition center) and Navy Pier. By the mid 1990’s, a $150 million redevelopment project improved every aspect of the Pier to provide year-round entertainment including a theatre, shops, restaurants, attractions and exhibition facilities.
By 2000, Navy Pier had added a Shakespearean theatre, a Tall-Ships festival and a Museum of Stained Glass.
Since the Millennium, plans have become even more ambitious. The Pier is now a major venue for movie openings, movie shoots, Tall Ship events, art galleries, open-air art exhibits and The Children’s Museum.
A new governance structure has been adopted with a not-for-profit corporation established to maintain Navy Pier as a historic public landmark and oversee its redevelopment. Millions in additional funding are being designated to continue the ongoing development, “greening” and expansion of Navy Pier.
From: navypier.com/about-us/
On this short walk, I explored a bit of the Lakeshore Trail and the Navy Pier. We had been to the Navy Pier earlier, but it was dark and the weather wasn't great. So I was happy the light was more interesting this time.
Taken at dawn through the rigging of boats moored at the Columbia Yacht Club on Lake Michigan.
Navy Pier is one of Chicago's most recognized landmarks.
Please press L.
Flying the Waverider during fireworks show at Navy Pier. 1/6 sec exposure with rear curtain flash (SB-800).
Among the thousands that go off together, these two came with a gap..were destined to be shot alone..
I had to Google quite a bit to find out what this was. At first I kept on seeing Floating Museum in the results, and thought to myself that somehow I had missed that museum on my walk...
On this short walk, I explored a bit of the Lakeshore Trail and the Navy Pier. We had been to the Navy Pier earlier, but it was dark and the weather wasn't great. So I was happy the light was more interesting this time.