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When the pier opened in 1916, it was called Municipal Pier. It was meant to provide a place for public recreation and to serve as a shipping hub for both cargo and passenger ships. But less than a year later, the U.S. declared war on Germany, and the Pier adapted. It soon played an important role in military preparations, housing soldiers ...
Jun 9, 2020 · Navy Pier once hosted a speed dating event on the Wheel, and also gave away free wheel rides on Valentine’s Day. The Centennial Wheel was installed in 2016, after the Pier’s first Ferris wheel from 1995. The Wheel uses a start/stop system to load multiple gondolas, which then lets the wheel operator set a number of rotations for the wheel.
Architect Charles Sumner Frost was hired to design the first pier, later known as Navy Pier, a few years after Burnham’s death. When it opened in 1916, it consisted of two-story freight and passenger sheds, bookended by a classically designed head house and a large, elegant ballroom. The pier’s metal frame and wood plank flooring was built ...
Jul 27, 2023 · Navy Pier is also famous for its Ferris wheel, which was based on the original Ferris wheel, which opened in Chicago in 1893. In 2016, the Centennial Wheel debuted — in honor of Navy Pier’s 100th anniversary — which towers over the Pier at 200 feet with enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas. Today, the Centennial Wheel stands as an iconic ...
Steeped in over 100 years of history, the pier is among the most visited destinations in the world and brimming with attractions you won’t want to miss. After taking in the sights, sounds and flavors of Navy Pier, once you step off, you find yourself right in downtown Chicago. Check out The Sable Pathway or the weekly events going on at the pier.
Another big change for the Navy Pier wheel is the passenger experience. As opposed to the 1995 wheel’s red gondolas, the new gondolas don Navy Pier’s signature blue and offer individual seating. Navy Pier’s previous ride operated on a continuous rotation system, meaning that passengers boarded while it was still moving.
Navy Pier’s objectives for the future remain consistent with Burnham’s enduring values for the ‘People’s Pier’ to be a place where local residents and guests from around the world come to experience the natural beauty of the lakefront and Chicago’s magnificent skyline. Navy Pier is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation ...
