Navy Pier facts for kids
Navy Pier is a very long pier, about 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) long. It stretches out into Lake Michigan in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Navy Pier is a huge area with over 50 acres of parks, gardens, shops, and restaurants. It also has many fun family attractions and places for exhibitions. It is one of the most popular places to visit in the Midwest. Over nine million people visit Navy Pier every year, making it Chicago's second-most visited tourist spot.
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The pier was built in 1916 by architect Charles Sumner Frost. It cost $4.5 million to build. It was part of a big plan for Chicago created by city planner Daniel Burnham.
In 1927, the pier was renamed Navy Pier. This was done to honor the naval veterans who served in World War I.
During World War II in 1941, the pier became a training center for the United States Navy. About 10,000 people worked, trained, and lived there. The pier had a large theater, a gym, a barber shop, and even a hospital.
From 1946 to 1965, the University of Illinois at Chicago held classes at the pier. After the university left, Navy Pier was not used as much.
In 1995, Navy Pier was completely redesigned. It reopened as a place with shops, restaurants, entertainment, and cultural spaces. More improvements and changes have been happening since 2006.
Navy Pier Park has many exciting outdoor attractions. You can find rides like the Pepsi Wave Swinger and the Light Tower Ride. There is also a fun Carousel to enjoy. A new ride called Drop Tower opened in 2021.
Inside the pier, you can explore Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze. The Crystal Gardens is also a beautiful place to visit. It is a one-acre botanical garden inside a six-story glass building. It has a tall, arched ceiling.
The Chicago Children's Museum is located at Navy Pier. It offers many different exhibits and activities for both kids and adults.
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater is also here. It puts on plays by William Shakespeare. The pier also had an IMAX theater that opened in 1995. It had a very large screen, 60 by 80 feet.
The original Ferris wheel at Navy Pier was taken down in 2015. A brand new, bigger Ferris Wheel was opened on May 27, 2016.
Events and Art at the Pier
Navy Pier is a great place for sightseeing tours. You can also go on dinner cruises on ships like the Spirit of Chicago or Odyssey II. During the summer, there are fireworks shows on Wednesday and Saturday nights. In the fall, fireworks happen on Saturday nights.
Every year from December through January, Navy Pier hosts the Fifth Third Bank Winter Wonderfest. This is a fun indoor festival.
Many cool outdoor art pieces are displayed around the pier. You can see the anchor from the naval ship USS Chicago (CA-136/CG-11) at the far end. Other art includes a statue of actor Bob Newhart and the Crack the Whip sculpture. This sculpture shows eight children playing and holding hands.
The Festival Halls at Navy Pier can be used for big sporting events. These halls can be turned into a large competition area. Gymnastics meets have been held there.
Images for kids
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During construction, 1915 (Chicago Daily News)
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Navy Pier in November 2015
