The Sears Tower Chicago

The Sears Tower Chicago is located on Wacker Drive in the heart of the West Loop. It is home to Chicago's largest corporations and commuter rail stations. Upon its completion in early 1973, the Sears Tower Chicago became famous for its attractive and contemporary 110-story trophy office tower consisting of steel columns and beams. The Chicago Sears Tower also has 16,100 bronze-tinted windows.

The Sears Tower Chicago stands at 1,450 feet. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Chicago skyline. Until the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia were built in 1998, the Sears Tower in Chicago held the record for the world's tallest building. The Skydeck at the Sears Tower in Chicago on the 103rd floor stands at 1,353 feet above ground. It is a famous one of the most famous Chicago tourist attractions. From the top of the Skydeck, visitors can experience how the building sways on a windy day. On a clear day, you will be able to see the Great Plains of Illinois as well as the area across from Lake Michigan. You can also see Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. The ride to the top of the Skydeck at the Sears Tower in Chicago takes only 45 seconds. If you are taking a family vacation, your kids will love knee-high kids window. High-powered telescopes allow you to see every detail. A bit of Chicago trivia: The Sears Tower Skydeck was featured in the movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

In addition to the great views from the Skydeck at the Chicago Sears Tower, you can enjoy a variety of interactive, museum-quality exhibits. Every turn gives you a chance to explore Chicago's history and historic characters. In fact, the Sears Tower history is quite interesting in itself.

Sears Tower History

In 1969 Sears, Roebuck & Co. was the largest retailer in the world. Sears executives decided to consolidate the thousands of Chicago employees into one building on the Chicago Loop. They knew that initially, they would require about three million square feet of space. However, the company had ambitious plans for expansion. Thus, they realized that they would eventually need even more space. As a solution, they decided to lease office space to smaller, while planning to retake these offices once the company expanded. Unfortunately, the dreams of extensive expansion turned out to be pipe dreams. Other retailing giants offered formidable competition. Eventually, Sears moved their offices to Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Rumor has it that the owners who purchased the building in March of 2004 have plans to rename the building.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation conducts tours of the Sears Tower Lobby. After the tour, you can visit the Sky Tower at a reduced rate, as well as a reduced waiting time.