Chicago Loop, IL, USA

The Chicago Loop is one of the community areas in Chicago and serves as the city’s central business district in Illinois, United States. It is bordered by Lake Michigan to the east, the Chicago River to the west and north, and Ida B. Wells Drive to the south. Located in the downtown area of Chicago, the Loop is characterized by its high-rise buildings, beautiful parks, shopping destinations, hotels, iconic landmarks, museums, galleries, theaters, cafés, and restaurants. It is home to several corporate headquarters and educational institutions, such as Roosevelt University, National Louis University, and Columbia College Chicago.

The Loop includes historic districts such as the Loop Retail Historic District and parts of the Historic Michigan Boulevard District, while nearby areas like Printer’s Row and the South Loop are located just south of the Loop. Adjacent to the district, Grant Park features a group of 106 iron sculptures named Agora. Spanning over 300 acres, the park houses many popular attractions, including the Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain, a designated Chicago Landmark, sports facilities like Hutchinson Fields and the Grant Park Pickleball Courts, as well as gardens such as the Spirit of Music Garden. The Art Institute of Chicago, established in 1879, is also located along the park. This iconic art museum has an impressive collection of nearly 300,000 works, including Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist, Paul Cézanne’s The Basket of Apples, and Mary Cassatt’s The Child’s Bath.

Other notable tourist attractions in and around the Loop include the Chicago Cultural Center, the Chicago Theatre, the Auditorium Building, the Civic Opera House, Symphony Center, and Chicago City Hall.