What's on the rooftops of Chicago's most famous skyscrapers?
VloĆŸit
- Äas pĆidĂĄn 29. 05. 2024
- Start speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel đ. Get up to 65% OFF your subscription âĄïž: Here: go.babbel.com/12m65-youtube-i...
Have you ever wondered what is on the tops of each building in Chicagoâs Skyline? Every major American city has a horizon littered with skyscrapers and Chicago, one of the most prominent cities in American history, is no different, holding some of the tallest buildings in the US. When walking through the streets of Chicago and looking up at these metal marvels stabbing the sky, one thing that the everyday citizen can obviously not see, is the tops of these buildings. This ultimately begs the question, what is on the rooftops of Chicagoâs tallest buildings? Chicagoâs Skyline is one of the tallest cities in the world, holding over 100 skyscrapers that are featured heavily in popular media such as film, television, music and art. Each of these tall structures are all unique in many ways from their age, who they house and what methods were used to construct them. Similarly, what lies on the roof of each of these skyscrapers is different in each case. So in order to get a holistic view of Chicagoâs rooftops, let's examine a select few of the most famous skyscrapers in the city.
ITâS HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.
0:00 - Introduction - What is on the Rooftops of Chicagoâs Most Famous Buildings?
0:58 - Sponsor - Babble, an Easy Yet Efficient Way to Learn a New Language
2:42 - Early History - What Made Chicago One of the Tallest Cities in the World
5:03 - Chicagoâs Most Famous Skyscraper - The Sears Tower (the Willis Tower)
10:16 - The Skyscraper That Can Withstand Chicagoâs Wind - The John Hancock Building (875 North Michigan Avenue)
12:56 - The Building That Houses Chicagoâs Opera - The Civic Opera House
15:17 - The Skyscraper that Holds the Voice of the Midwest - The Tribune Tower
18:54 - Chicagoâs Skyscraper That Embodies the Art Deco Style - The Chicago Board of Trade Building
21:18 - Chicagoâs Skyscraper That Peers Over Lake Michigan - The Crain Communications Building
23:29 - Conclusion - The Unique Roofs on Chicagoâs Skylines
» CONTACT
For brands, agencies and sponsorships, please contact us at itshistory@thoughtleaders.io
/ kultamerica
» CREDIT
Sponsored by Babbel
Scriptwriter - Brandon Evans,
Editor - Sebastian Ripoll
Host - Ryan Socash
» SOURCES
/ itshistory
» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.
Start speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel đ. Get up to 65% OFF your subscription âĄ: Here: go.babbel.com/12m65-youtube-itshistory-may-2022/default
Where my family comes from in Florence Italy there are many Towers still surviving today. The original Sears headquarters Tower which also housed WLS world's largest store radio station also survives today constructed during an era of popular corporate tower building alongside factories I think links back to Etruscan family Towers of antiquity. Might be nice to do an episode on those in Chicago continues to lose them at a steady pace.
I applaude you for calling it the sears tower, like everyone who lives here does lol. Noone calls it willis or whatever the hell its known as now
I can see the Willis Tower from my kitchen window, and I call it the Willis Tower.
It will forever be the sears tower! It was that for 25 out of my 29 years of living, and thatâs that
*no one
@@franklinthomas7213 transplant?
@@franklinthomas7213 you're not a real Chicagoan đ€·ââïž
Iâve come for the stock footage and mispronunciation of namesâŠ.
What is an "Ontenna"?? Yikes, I swear there's supposed to be an "A" at the beginning of that word.... đđ
Don't forget the odd cadence.
I've come to hear 'Lower Lower Whacker Drive'.
Patron twin towers?
Good video. Covered everything except for "What's on the rooftops of Chicago's most famous skyscrapers?"
side story. The great Chicago fire of 1871, indirectly doomed a city in Michigan. Singapore MI. on lake Mi. When Chicago burned down. there was a heavy demand for wood. it came from everywhere. WI, IL, ID, and MI. The Town of Singapore Mi was a small town on the lake shore that started harvesting the trees around it, to send to Chicago for their rebuild. in the process they OVER LOGGED the area. with all the trees gone, nothing stopped the wind and the sand blew. with in months the town was literally buried in sand. they had to abandon the town. most moved to Holland MI. just an interesting side story.
I always love hearing the story of Singapore! I'm a Chicagoan who goes to Saugatuck every year, so I've stood on the dunes that now cover Singapore several times
There was a demand for something to drink. I understand that the Schlitz Brewing Company of. Milwaukee donated beer for the city of Chicago during the fire.
Thatâs absolutely horrendous!
...and no one remembered that lesson when it came time for the Dust Bowl.
@@alli457 wowww Iâm a Chicagoan and used to do the Saugatuck trip every year when I was young. Had no idea this was the history because I was too naive to pay attention. Thank you so much for making this connection for me! Have some history to dive into!
I think that the Sears tower on-tennas look great. I love driving in on the Kennedy and admiring it from afar.
Why not started drinking game for every time you pronounce the word untenna
The Sears Tower, Hancock Building and the Standard Oil Building (now the Aon center) were commonly referred to as Big Buck (no one gave Roebuck a thought), Big John and Big Stan.
The nickname for the Hancock tower could've gone another way!
@@KutWrite 'Big Han' just doesn't have the same ring to it.
@@carlsaganlives5112I think they're referring to the other part of "Hancock".
I worked downton for decades including for Sears in Sears Tower and am currently working downtown on a hybrid schedule and never heard those nicknames.
For the love of god please stop saying ontennaâŠ
I'd be interested in a video specifically on the theatres of the city. Architects Rapp and Rapp did incredible work on the Riviera, Uptown Theater, and Chicago Theater just scratching the surface
ooh! The Uptown! that would be a GREAT feature!
The Auditorium Theatre is the crown jewel, however, of the cityâs collection of theaters
Rapp & Rapp actually has a connection to my hometown of NYC! They were one of the architectural firms responsible for the Loews Theaters built within the 5 boroughs! I'd love to see some videos on lost theaters of major cities. I believe Chicago also has a set of theaters created by the Balaban family, if I'm not mistaken.
@@tylerkochman1007 Saw Wilco there a few weeks back. An absolutely stunning venue to see a stunning band.
TRANSFORMERS
As others have said, than you for calling it the Sears Tower, it will always be the Sears Tower, no question.
I think it would be cool to see what is in the basement/ underground tunnels of these skyscrapers if you can.
Lol you can see it. Itâs an actual street that people drive on and a lot of the skyscrapers have their parking garages and loading docks for movers trucks etc. the name of the street is called lower wacker drive. If youâre from out of town you might think itâs awesome. I for 1 canât stand that stupid street
@@jeremyanderson2805 Even though I have lived all my life in Illinois, I do not know the full history and like learning more. Lower Wacker, well most infamous for The Blues Brothers film from the 80âs.
@@zzdakota and thatâs something I never knew. I have to look into that thank you
I'm someone who grew up staring at these buildings wondering what was going on in them. My inner child and current adult self thoroughly thank you for this
Meetings, keyboard clacking, phone calls and coffee pouring. The basics of white collar office life.
You could have also included the Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue, originally to serve the interests of the Wrigley Chewing Gum company and its owner/heir. It began in 1920 as the only major office building north of the Chicago River, directly across Michigan Ave. from the Tribune Tower,. The south tower was finished in 1921 at 425 feet, while the Tribune Tower was started in 1923 to be finished in 1925 at 463 feet to "beat" the Wrigley for height. These are an interesting pair for architectural differences right across the avenue from each other and both north of the Chicago River.
The Wrigley Building is gorgeous.
@@GeographRick yup
Me: He better call it by its actual name.
5:04âThe SEARS towerâ
Me: Wooooooooooooohhh
FYI: Chicago is not called the Windy City because of the wind but because of political bluster. It is not one of the windiest cities in the US.
FYI-it is windy as shit here though
Downtown gets very windy because the skyscrapers create wind tunnels. Probably not the worst but its gets wild
It is windy!!!
Yup
Chicago is the most beautiful big city on the planet. Love visiting, favorite city in the world.
Agreed, minis the fact that it's a Democ-ratic city
and my favorite city in the world
Yes it's also the murder capital of the world!!!
If you want to see what a big city should be go to Phoenix Arizona!!!
@@kirkkirkland7244 Seriously? Phoenix is just super spread out without any character and very little of it is walkable, not to mention it has a skyline that doesn't even hold a candle to Chicago! Yeah Phoenix might be warm year round, but that's about all it has going for it. I'd take Chicago any day, freezing weather or not!
Please do a part two! I would love for you to discuss the Chicago Temple, Jewelers Building, Lincoln Tower, CNA building, Wrigley, Rookery, Marina City, Pittsfield, Palmolive, Carbon and Carbide, and Intercontinental hotel building that was built by the Shriner's!
Just don't call it the "Willis Tower". It will always be the Sears Tower.
I still have a button on my jean jacket. 'Forever Marshall Field's'!
Chicagoan here, genuinely did not know it wasn't called the Hancock Center anymore.
Huh?!?..me either!...đ€·ââïž. And I've lived here all my 44years....lol
I guess as it will ever be the Sears tower, so will the Hancock be
I thought it was just me who didnât know about the name change
@@MikeyLikesIt89 lol... Yeah.....I was like huh??...WTF?!?... đ Lol
To be fair, no one was excited about the name defaulting to a lame address, so no one promoted it! A deal is a deal, so the Hancock name expired. But I guess if youâre âfirst,â the name will always stick!
The flying butresses on the Tribune Building are so beautiful! Holy crap, I had no idea there were skyscrapers with them.
Iâm as surprised as you are. I didnât even know it was possible!
I am going to form a nude female trapeze act and name them the flying buttresses.
Amazing, looks like an old world cathedral. Didn't know this existed. Def worth a Google.
Iâd love to just explore all of these buildingsâŠevery single room!
The Sears Tower was the worldâs tallest building till 2004 when the Taipei 101 surpassed it by roof height. Petronas towers developers were lazy, vanity height shouldnât count.
Nevertheless Sears Tower's antenna tips (eastern antenna: 1,707 ft; later extended western antenna: 1,729 ft) still overtop the spire of Taipei 101 (1,671 ft).
A point of order here, Ryan: the wind that Chicago is famous for has nothing to do with the weather. Although the canyons formed by the street in between numerous large buildings does create an accelerated breeze through the streets. You mentioned the 1893 Columbian exhibition. This is where the term âthe Windy City âcame from. It was a New York newspaper reporter that called Chicago the Windy City because of the effort to bring the Columbian exhibition to Chicago. It is now called the Windy City because of the big wind blowing Out of City Hall
I remember being told the Windy City came from all the Chicago politicians that was full of hot air
@@srice8959 I did this on voice operated and did not know that I got cut off. The modern interpretation that you have proffered is correct and I have updated my post
@@rogerpenske2411 But you can still stand on thee corner of State and Randolph and see flags on each corner blowing in four different directions. The 'hawk' abides!
The current mayor is a bag of hot air đ
@@rogerpenske2411
You really didnât have to change anything brother. I was just pointing out that itâs something that I was taught, but Iâve also have been told that the reason you gave has been true also. I have a feeling that the nickname âThe Windy Cityâ most likely came about from multiple different reasons including what you had said. I also remember one person telling me that itâs because OâHare Airport has the most amount of canceled flights because of extreme wind/weather also. That last one Iâm not 100% positive about. Mainly because if memory serves me right the nickname out dates the airport
Great video. Solid research and impressive imagery. Keep 'em coming!
One of my favorate bildings in Chicago is the Marina Towers..
Corn cobs.
@@whiskeybuilder6335 They do look like giant corn cobs.
Awesome place. You can catch a boat tour, get an amazing steak, and catch a show at the House of Blues right there at marina city
I live in River North and I am Polish.
I can confirm that the Polish to English translation of Willis is pronounced S E A R S đ
Sears tower - Hancock building - lake shore drive - comiskey park (or Sox park)
Born and raised in Chicago I work in downtown Chicago in the diamond district on Wabash Avenue.
In the past I've worked at a law firm on Michigan Avenue and I've worked at the Tribune Tower on a law team (Fun fact: Tribune Tower is haunted, I personally witness crazy moments in that building!)
and I also worked at a media agency in the Merchandise Mart.
The media agency I've worked with took us on the roof top of the Merchandise Mart for a company picture and it was an awesome view!
I've been on another rooftop at the law firm I worked at on Michigan Avenue.
There is an open bar and a wrap around balcony up there, it was another beautiful view!đ
What did you witness at the Tribune Tower?
The Chicago Tribune Sunday magazine had a great story about the secret rooftops of buildings downtown (including photos!) I donât remember the exact date, or even year - sometime between 1978 and early 1980s I believe. These office buildings were built by the company owners and were more modest in size - 10-20 stories I think. Because they had homes in the suburbs, they designed the rooftops with apartments or actual little houses to living in during the week rather than making the long trip home. By the 1940s transportation got better and those areas became mostly disused or used only during summers by the company ownersâ college-aged children looking for free rent. At least thatâs how I remember the article. It might be worth researching this story, Ryan Socash.
The Sears Tower will always be the Sears Tower, even though Sears is basically gone.
Sears is still going strong in Mexico ; it is majority owned by Carlos Slim ! ( As of May 23 , 2022 ) đđđ
I would love a basement video!
Patron Twin Towers? Patron? You mean Petronas? You know, the Malaysian national oil and gas company?
"Yes, yes, engage with my video!" đ
Iâve come for the stock footage and mispronunciation of namesâŠ.
Never seen a person that grew up in the U.S. and went to university there appear so unable to pronounce this in my life. God knows what he graduated in.
I was born in Chicago in 1960. We left in 1971 moving to the suburbs of Louisville Ky. Nothing but growing up and moving on. My last visit to Chicago was in 1976. When I look back. While becoming a suburbanite. I was a city boy. I missed the alleys. The smells. The cable operated CTAâs. And, most of all, my Cubbies. I got to see Ernie Banks play at Wrigley Field in 69. And, in 2016 something I thought Iâd never see happened. So, Iâll just thank God for my family. And, and keep Pulaski Ave. forever in my memories.
It will forever be Sears Tower to me. I've never nor have anyone I know called it Willis. Lol. Hell we still call where the Sox play Comisky Park.
Course the United Center is the United center now. Thanks to MJ
Another fine watch from "It's History" Thank you.....
Had the opportunity to get onto the roof of the Sears a few years ago. Was an amazing and exhilarating experience!!!
I love this channel, your work is great! Keep it up
I would expect a Water Towe, Antenna, and AC units on a roof. My interest is in how deep the buildings floors go, as what holds the base that is usefully occupied?
The basement idea sounds neat! Good work!
Thanks for this video! Very interesting that my city has some cool history!
You didn't already know Chicago had cool history? Just wait...
@@BobbySacamano I know the history of the city . Itâs just the history of the buildings I didnât know.
Great video.. definitely would like a part two and a basement's video .. great job sir.. you did a brilliant job..
You donât want to know whatâs down thereâŠ.
very good đđ» i think chicagoâs best claim to fame is it was the first city in the world to contain 5 buildings over 300 metres tallâđ»
I live in Chicago since I was born 1989 The sears tower and john handcock those buildings are so iconic and hopefully Chicago make more towers
Awesome as always!
Love you LOVE your show!!
Great video! What is the skyscraper with the golden dome on it @15:21, located to the right of the Tribune building? It looks to be Art Deco as well.
An answer to the small me that played Microsoft Flight Simulator back in 1999... thats great, thank you.
Awesome video my friend.
18:36 Tribune tower used to be the printing plant for the Chicago Tribune before they moved it too a separate facility. There used to be a UP spur that ran along the Chicago river and delivered to buildings like the Chicago Sun Times building (replaced with Trump Tower), it also served the Chicago Tribune, and terminated at Navy Pier. The printing plant was in the lower levels of the building, and was served by a rail spur underground. Due to it being at surface level (I determined this by looking at old photographs) at the Chicago Sun Times building, I presume that it would have not been possible for it to have been in a tunnel. Instead, it probably went semi-underground to lower Michigan avenue, and delivered rolls of newsprint there.
Interesting story I really liked it!! âïžâźïžđđđđ
It took almost 9 minutes to tell us whatâs on to of the sears tower.
SEARS TOWER. Period.
Please do a video on the basements. I love your videos.
Love the show đ
95th floor Signature Room.
Over priced food, go to the Cheesecake Factory on the ground floor, then go to the bar on the 96th for drinks and a view.
This is such an awesome video, Iâm so happy my algorithm brought it to me
Glad you enjoyed it!
It's really nice! especially during the golden hour in a December evening a few years back. I had the luxurious opportunity to have been able to smoke me a blunt on the top of Sears Tower! It was really warm surprisingly up there during winter here because of the fans.
I live at The Legacy. On the tops of our rooftops are terraces. We have multiple maple trees, bushes, flowers, and succulents.
This vid is so much more than just rooftops!
the pronounciation of the word antenna is not on-tenna! said so many times close together made me stop watching...i mean what do u think is up there anyway? santa?
Wouldnât that be Sonta?
Chicago is my favorite city in America
Except for the ugly mayor Lightfoot đ€ź
WGN stands for Worlds Greatest Newspaper. I think the Tribune owned WGN at least at the beginning.
Proud Chicagoan-Italian, world class City. With several major developments like The 78, Lincoln Yards, The Reese Brownsville, Goose Island, Ballys Casino off the River. Chicago will continue to be Amazing! Canât wait!
Also it's the murder capital of the world!!! I don't see how anyone would actually want to live in these huge evil cities???
Give me open country and mountains!!!
I live right next to the Crain building always wondered whatâs up top, also the carbon carbide building right next to it deserves a mention
Good work
i love the chicago board of trade building design.
21:19 Remeinds me of a building in my home city of Brisbane, Australia it's called Central Plaza One.
One of the arcitects for the Sears Tower was Ferdinand Scheeler, my friends father. My friend has the original blueprints for it.
Cool đ i can imagine how big this building blueprints
thats really cool
your polish is pretty good
Given he comes from a Polish family and now lives in PolandâŠâŠ..ummmmm
I moved to Poland at 24 in 2005, Iâm from an American family.
I do some of da best sites of Chicago from where I used to live. In Da Gold Coast... Miss em so much!â€. I got engaged at da Hancock in the Observatory.
Okayyyy dude, I was on lakeshore this morning and was wondering this exact question.
Nice video indeed. Should have also included Marina Towers and 333 Wacker Drive.
two video ideas
1. Something regarding the railroad history in chicago like the well street station, dearborn station or something involving metra (just trying to justify making a video about good ol METRA).
2. The infamous Cincinnati Subway.
I like the basement idea :)
If youâre ever visiting Chicago - Go for a cocktail in the Signature Room lounge in the Hancock. Itâs a way to see the views for âfreeâ (Or the price of one great, overpriced cocktail). And the view from the Hancock is soo much prettier than Sears Tower!
I think 100 m(330 feet) can also be referred to as a technical skyscraper. 330 feet buildings are still rather tall imo. I sometimes refer to as buildings between 100 m(330 feet) and 150 m(490 feet) tall as either tall high-rises or small skyscrapers.
I can't stop thinking about your "auntennas" lol... great video though!
Very interesting and unique perspective of tall buildings. Thanks for your work on this.
I subscribed I wanna see the underground too âșïž
I stand over six feet tall and shorter people often wonder what's going on upstairs.
I went to the sky deck 2 times with my dad and the view was amazing next year I wanna go again and go to the hancock tower
Those Ontennaes are really tall & colorful
I'm glad we covered the Untennas...
Our Epic Center in Wichita, KS has a very unique look to it and reminds of the Crain Communication Center. It has 22 occupied floors and also has one or two mechanical floors. It is 320 feet to the top floor and 385 feet tall to the tip of the iconic roof. It has numerous small antennas at the very top with one reaching at least 15 feet.
The Epic Center was built between 1985 and 1987 and is the tallest building in Wichita and Kansas.
Need the basement video!
l subscribed ,so i want to see the basements in chicago . I think , although some of the things I have seen in the subways I am not sure .
subscribed and waiting
I remember going with my school's 8th grade class mates to the Sears Tower for 2 nights in 1980.
I love that you called it the Sears Tower, even though it is called the Willis Tower nowadays ;)
If you get a chance can you do a history of Boston's Backbay
the civic opera building looks a lot like a huge version of the Sterick building in Memphis.
Basements would be cool!!!
Hoping you cover the wrigley building at some pointâŠ
I love my city!
How about doing a similar program on Houston's skyscrapers? There is a plethora of interesting roof-tops throughout Houston's six skylines.
I've been to the top of the crain communication building, all thats up their is tools and storage space for the building engineers. This was like 10 years ago so it might be different now.
Rocks, dead birds and many different types of antennas
And little plants.
The John Hancock Center Construction started in June 1965 and Opened in 1969. The Willis Tower (as Sears Tower) Construction started in 1970 and Opened in May 1973.
Crazy when cathedral's look tiny!!!
Did you ever make the skyscraper basement segment?