Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the largest and oldest art museums in the world. It has a permanent collection of approximately 300,000 works of art and hosts more than 30 special exhibitions each year. Plus, it's located in Chicago's Grant Park, so be sure to plan your visit when the weather is nice. With more than 1.5 million visitors a year, you'll soon realize why this monument is truly one of the icons on the list.
This historic monument was founded in 1889 and was initially used as a multipurpose facility, providing office space for city officials, as well as police and fire personnel. Located in Oak Ridge Cemetery, is the final resting place of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. During your stay in Oak Park, visit Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio, where the world-famous architect lived and worked for 20 years. The famous American writer Ernest Hemingway was born and spent his first six years in Illinois, and the first McDonald's was built in Des Plaines, Illinois.
The striking red rocks of the Garden of the Gods, in the Shawnee National Forest, are a spectacular Illinois natural monument worth visiting. Illinois is also known as the “Land of Lincoln” because the famous President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, spent most of his life in this state, which was the first state in the United States to ratify the 13th Amendment and abolish slavery. The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain is a famous monument in Chicago's Grant Park and one of the largest fountains in the world. From buildings that shape the Chicago skyline to ruins of an ancient civilization, we've compiled a list of Illinois landmarks that every person should visit at least once in their lifetime.
The most famous monument in Chicago's Millennium Park is the Cloud Gate, better known as “The Bean”. The contrast between the Illinois countryside and its largest city, Chicago, means that there are several points of interest in Illinois to visit. Located in the northwest of Chatsworth, the park was part of the historic Iverson Movie Ranch and appeared in several movies, such as “The Lone Ranger” and “Tarzan”. Originally called the Sears Tower (as some locals still insist on calling it), this monument is what really shapes the Chicago skyline.
If you are going to visit Chicago, you can't miss a walk through Millennium Park, a place that is synonymous with the city itself. If this is your first time there, be sure to see the gigantic bean sculpture, officially known as Cloud Gate, which is recognized as one of the most emblematic places for tourists and residents to take pictures.
