The transformation of the area east of Michigan Avenue from an industrial wasteland into the vibrant and heavily-used Millennium Park is truly a remarkable tale in Chicago's recent history. The apocryphal tale says that Mayor Richard M. Daley looked out from his dentist's office and envisioned a public park that would be comparable to other grand spaces in the city. The construction of Millennium...

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has long had an ambitious public art program. This handy 62-page guidebook provides interested parties and tourists with a complete listing of these works. Not surprisingly, the works are arranged by elevated line and by stop. The guide starts with providing information about works on the Brown Line, which is a great place to begin. It's a real treat to start...

The city of Chicago has had public art projects for over a century, but things really took off with the passage in 1978 of the Percent for Art Ordinance. This act stipulated that a percentage of construction and renovation costs for municipal buildings and public spaces be set aside for original artwork. This website offers visitors several guides to the more than 700 works of art exhibited in 150...