After our Wall of Fame project, we learned about many famous Chicagoans. Most of them are buried in Graceland Cemetery. Be sure to click on the sites of such individuals including Daniel Burnham, Potter Palmer, George Pullman, Marshall Field and Mies Van Der Rohe. There graves are as interesting as their lives in many cases, and they are all buried at Graceland.

Stop 1: Graceland Cemetery

Stop 2: Millennium Park

After our tour of Millennium Park, we will walk across the street to the Cultural Center. Originally the city's library, he Cultural Center now holds special events, contains the Museum of Broadcast Communications and houses two magnificent Tiffany domes. Take your time looking around this truly historic and beautiful building.

Stop 3: The Cultural Center

Following a walk inside the Cultural Center, we will take a walk through downtown, seeing first hand the architectural masterpieces. As we walk through Daley Plaza, one of the most famous and most misunderstood pieces of public art resides. Known simply as "The Picasso" the statue has intrigued and delighted people for nearly four decades. Take a close look at the piece. Is it a bird? An anteater? Or do you see a woman's profile from the rear 45 degree angle?

Stop 4: The Picasso

We will then walk across the street to the beautiful and modern Helmut Jahn-designd Thompson Center. Here we will grab a bite to eat and ride the magnificent elevators. Be sure to click on "Building Information" for an up close look at the features of this structure.

Stop 5: The Thompson Center

As we make our way through the city, we eventually end up at the Rookery. Daniel Burnham designed the outside while Frank Lloyd Wright designed the inside. It is widely regarded as one of the masterpiece's in American architecture.

Stop 6: The Rookery

After eating lunch in lovely Grant Park, we will take the bus to the South Side. But before doing so, we will briefly explore the museum campus. This is a recent development by the mayor in an attempt to beautify the city as well as connect three spectacular museums. Once at the site, be sure to click on "About Museum Campus". Also, from this point you can learn more about the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium just by clicking on their links at the top of the page.

Stop 7: The Museum Campus

After a nice ride down LSD, we will arrive at the University of Chicago, one of the premier institutions in the world. Take some time and look around this intense campus where the Enrico Fermi was able to conduct the first controlled nuclear reaction.

Stop 8: University of Chicago
         Then take a look at an artist's rendering of the campus with these images. Artist Images

Our trip is almost done, but on our way back to school we will stop by Maxwell Street. This used to be a thriving open air market populated largely by Jewish people of Russian descent. Lately, there has been a movement by UIC to take over the little bit that remains of the historic district, but, as this web site will demonstrate, people have strong feelings for this spot. Be sure to read the seven page history of the struggle with the university complete with authentic photographs.

Stop 9: Maxwell Street

As our trip comes to a close, I would like you to click on the attachment at the bottom of this page. It highlights the Chicago Plan of 1909 by Daniel Burnham. There is always a struggle between preservation and progress in a major city, and after this field trip, you should be able to comment on what aspects of Burnham's vision are still intact, and which ones have been completely ignored.

Thanks for visiting!