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  2. CHICAGO 2013

Chicago River architectural tour, Apr 14, 2013

The photos follow the sequence of the trip, which traverses the three branches of the river (laid out like a propeller, with Wolf Point at the center): 1. From Michigan Ave east to Lake Michigan, then 180 degrees west to the fork in the river at Wolf Point. 2. Up the north branch canal, past Goose Island on the west, then turn south, past Wolf Point to the end of navigation on the south branch. 3. Then north to Wolf point, then east to the Michigan Ave bridge.
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  • 2-Michigan Ave bridge, Trump Hotel behind.

    2-Michigan Ave bridge, Trump Hotel behind.

  • 3-Univ. of Chicago Downtown Center is the low building in the center. NBC is the tall building at right.

    3-Univ. of Chicago Downtown Center is the low building in the center. NBC is the tall building at right.

  • 4-Chicago River, north bank, looking east. Sheraton Hotel at far left, office building center, residences at far right.

    4-Chicago River, north bank, looking east. Sheraton Hotel at far left, office building center, residences at far right.

  • 5-Condos along Chicago River Esplanade

    5-Condos along Chicago River Esplanade

  • 6-Lake Point Tower Condominium on East Grand Avenue (left). Navy Pier is right of the sea wall.

    6-Lake Point Tower Condominium on East Grand Avenue (left). Navy Pier is right of the sea wall.

  • 7-Navy Pier

    7-Navy Pier

  • 8-Chicago Fire has three boats. River meets Lake Michigan to the left of this photo.

    8-Chicago Fire has three boats. River meets Lake Michigan to the left of this photo.

  • 9-Chicago Harbor Lock: River this side, Lake Michigan other side.

    9-Chicago Harbor Lock: River this side, Lake Michigan other side.

  • 10-Michigan Avenue Bridge (left) and Lakeshore East district (right half of photo)

    10-Michigan Avenue Bridge (left) and Lakeshore East district (right half of photo)

  • 11-Navy Pier

    11-Navy Pier

  • 12-Lakeshore East (a district east of Michigan Avenue). Lake Point Tower Condominiums at far right.

    12-Lakeshore East (a district east of Michigan Avenue). Lake Point Tower Condominiums at far right.

  • 13-Riverfront condos along Chicago River Esplanade (Vehicles enter on North Water St., behind).

    13-Riverfront condos along Chicago River Esplanade (Vehicles enter on North Water St., behind).

  • 14-Trump Hotel and Tower and Michigan Ave bridge (left); Wrigley Building (center)

    14-Trump Hotel and Tower and Michigan Ave bridge (left); Wrigley Building (center)

  • 15-Tribune Tower. (There's a long stretch without photos. The next photo is from the North Branch Canal, heading south.)

    15-Tribune Tower. (There's a long stretch without photos. The next photo is from the North Branch Canal, heading south.)

  • 16-On the North Branch Canal, looking south to Chicago Ave bridge.

    16-On the North Branch Canal, looking south to Chicago Ave bridge.

  • 17-Chicago Ave bridge and tender house

    17-Chicago Ave bridge and tender house

  • 18-Grand Avenue Bridge

    18-Grand Avenue Bridge

  • 19-Grand Ave Bridge tender house

    19-Grand Ave Bridge tender house

  • 20-Kinzie Street Bridge

    20-Kinzie Street Bridge

  • 21-Kinzie Street Bridge, Willis Tower in the far distance.

    21-Kinzie Street Bridge, Willis Tower in the far distance.

  • 22-Lake Street Bridge. The beige building behind the yellow crane and "in front" of the Willis Tower is the Chicago Civic Opera House. Boeing Building at far right.

    22-Lake Street Bridge. The beige building behind the yellow crane and "in front" of the Willis Tower is the Chicago Civic Opera House. Boeing Building at far right.

  • 23-Willis Tower

    23-Willis Tower

  • 24-Willis Tower (center); 311 S. Wacker (right)

    24-Willis Tower (center); 311 S. Wacker (right)

  • 25-S-plan River City condos by Bertrand Goldberg (of Marina City fame). They front on South Wells St.

    25-S-plan River City condos by Bertrand Goldberg (of Marina City fame). They front on South Wells St.

  • 26-River City condos designed by Bertrand Goldberg

    26-River City condos designed by Bertrand Goldberg

  • 27-St. Charles Airline Bridge. End of navigation on south branch of river.

    27-St. Charles Airline Bridge. End of navigation on south branch of river.

  • 28-St. Charles Airline Bridge, west bank. We have turned north.

    28-St. Charles Airline Bridge, west bank. We have turned north.

  • 29-Heading north on the south branch of the river. Willis tower and 311 S. Wacker dead center.

    29-Heading north on the south branch of the river. Willis tower and 311 S. Wacker dead center.

  • 30-Willis Tower; 311 S. Wacker; Bertrand Goldberg's River City condos.

    30-Willis Tower; 311 S. Wacker; Bertrand Goldberg's River City condos.

  • 31-Looking north at Harrison St. Bridge, Willis Tower (1451 ft), and 311 S. Wacker (961 ft).

    31-Looking north at Harrison St. Bridge, Willis Tower (1451 ft), and 311 S. Wacker (961 ft).

  • 32-Willis Tower (left) rises 1451 feet. 311 S. Wacker is 961 feet.

    32-Willis Tower (left) rises 1451 feet. 311 S. Wacker is 961 feet.

  • 33-Willis and other towers

    33-Willis and other towers

  • 34-Back downtown, looking east at La Salle St. Bridge section replacement. Red brick is Reid Murdoch Center, 1914. Corn cob Marina City twin towers (behind Westin), by Bertrand Goldberg, 1964. Wrigley, Aqua, and Union Carbide towers in distance.

    34-Back downtown, looking east at La Salle St. Bridge section replacement. Red brick is Reid Murdoch Center, 1914. Corn cob Marina City twin towers (behind Westin), by Bertrand Goldberg, 1964. Wrigley, Aqua, and Union Carbide towers in distance.

  • 35-Bertrand Goldberg's Marina City corn cobs, 1964 (center). Trump tower behind (glinting). Wrigley Tower, right.

    35-Bertrand Goldberg's Marina City corn cobs, 1964 (center). Trump tower behind (glinting). Wrigley Tower, right.

  • 36-Union Carbide (art deco tower); Aon (tallest); and Two Prudential Center (pyramid).

    36-Union Carbide (art deco tower); Aon (tallest); and Two Prudential Center (pyramid).

  • 37-Tribune Tower, flying buttresses and all — THE END

    37-Tribune Tower, flying buttresses and all — THE END

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    4-Chicago River, north bank, looking east. Sheraton Hotel at far left, office building center, residences at far right.
    5-Condos along Chicago River Esplanade
    6-Lake Point Tower Condominium on East Grand Avenue (left). Navy Pier is right of the sea wall.