Willis Tower

Willis Tower Review

In Chicago, size matters. This soaring 110-story skyscraper, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1974, was originally named the Sears Tower and was the world's tallest building until 1996. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, claimed the title, but it transferred hands again in 2004 to Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Today, Dubai's Burj Khalifa owns the bragging rights. Still, nothing quite beats Willis Tower's 103rd-floor Skydeck and the Ledge. Suspended 4.3 feet out from the building, this glass box offers thrills along with views; on a clear day, a whopping four states, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana, are visible. Check the visibility ratings at the security desk before you decide to ride up and take in the view. Interactive exhibits bring to life Chicago's dreamers, schemers, architects, musicians, and sports stars. Computer kiosks in six languages help international travelers key into Chicago hot spots. Knee-High Chicago is a 4-foot-high exhibit with cutouts of Chicago sports and history at a child's eye level. Enter on Jackson Boulevard to take the ear-popping ride to the 103rd-floor observatory. Video monitors turn the 70-second elevator ride into a fun-filled, thrilling trip. Before you leave, don't miss the spiraling Calder mobile sculpture The Universe in the ground-floor lobby on the Wacker Drive side.