Home Destinations USA Illinois Chicago Sights Grant Park & Buckingham Fountain

Grant Park & Buckingham Fountain Review

Read our Chicago sights reviews. Or post your own.

Grant Park & Buckingham Fountain

  • Address: South Loop, Chicago, IL | Map It
  • Phone: 312/747-1534

Fodor's Review:

Two of Chicago's greatest treasures reside in Grant Park—the Art Institute and Buckingham Fountain. Bordered by Lake Michigan to the east and a spectacular skyline to the west, the ever-popular Grant Park hosts many of the city's outdoor events, including the annual Taste of Chicago, a vast picnic featuring foods from more than 70 restaurants. The event precedes a fireworks show around July Fourth. The fountain is a wonderful place to people-watch.

The centerpiece of Grant Park is the gorgeous, tiered Buckingham Fountain (Between Columbus and Lake Shore Drs. east of Congress Plaza), which has intricate designs of pink-marble seashells, water-spouting fish, and bronze sculptures of sea horses. It was patterned after a fountain at Versailles but is about twice as large as its model. See it in all its glory between May 1 and October 1, when it's elaborately illuminated at night and sprays colorfully lighted waters.

Find more sights in Chicago »

Member Reviews and Ratings

Be the first to review this property

Get Advice From Other Travelers

Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip



Get the Fodor's Newsletter

For more travel ideas, tips, and deals, sign up for the Fodor's newsletter here. Read the current issue. Browse previous issues.




Copyright © 2009 Fodor's Travel, a division of Random House, Inc.