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7 Facts You Didn’t Know About Millennium Park, Chicago

Bindu swetha
Once a railroad and a parking lot, Millennium Park, is one of the most iconic places in Chicago. The park represents the transformation of Chicago's downtown into a 21st-century metropolis!

The Opening

With a three-day festival and a series of events, tours, activities, and a large audience to witness this extravaganza, the Millennium Park opened on July 16, 2004.
Earlier the Millennium Park was to be named the 'Garden of Arts'. However, the CEO of Sara Lee, John Bryan, wanted to call the place 'Millennium Park'!

The Idea

Mayor Daley da II was visiting his dentist at Michigan Avenue when he realized the unpleasantness of the view of a train depot and a parking lot across the street. Thus, the idea of building a beautiful park struck him!

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The Bean

The 110-ton structure, the Bean, which shrinks and expands as it heats and cools throughout the year, is made out of metal.

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There are wooden frame and beams that support the structure while it expands. It is said that the 168-piece structure will remain standing until 3006, due to the finely welded parts and polish.

The Pritzker Pavilion’s Speakers

The Pritzker Pavilion built in 2004, has the best audio setup! The sound actually travels faster through the system than it does through the air. So, if you are sitting at a distance from the stage, you would probably hear the music sooner than the music that comes off the stage!

The BP Bridge

The Millennium Park and the Maggie Daley Park are connected by the BP Bridge, which makes it easy to access the Columbus Drive. Designed by the Pritzker Architecture Prize winning architect Frank Gehry, the bridge is a noise barrier along the eastern side of the park.

The Crown Fountain

If you have been here, you will be amazed by the water spouting faces displayed at the Crown towers!

These faces are giant LCD screens that make up a grid of red, blue and green lights that brighten or dim as per the images that are being displayed. The images (faces) are of people who were filmed in 2003-04 by the Spanish artist, Jaume Plensa.

The Lurie Garden

The 2.5 acre garden is a peaceful spot, due to the 15-foot high hedge that encloses the garden on two sides. These hedges protect the perennial garden from pedestrians. It is Carl Sandburg's symbolic representation of Chicago as the 'City of Big Shoulders'.