Day 3 of touring the city with Open House Chicago started with another building that is not officially part of the tour – Union Station.
Union Station is in my opinion the second best train station in America (Grand Central Terminal is first, and the Washington Union Station is tied with this one).
You make a grand entrance down the staircase.
Past the Corinthian Columns…
A quick look back up the stairs…
And you are in the Main Hall.
Unlike Grand Central, Union Station still has the cool old wooden benches.
On this early Sunday morning there were about 20 people in the Great Hall, and 15 of us were taking photos.
The 100-400mm provides close up of the details on the ceilings.
And the tops of the columns.
Even the Amtrak ticket office has a good look to it.
More classic touches.
While the Amtrak ticket office matched the building this ugly kiosk does not.
The Amtrak business class lounge is new but matches the look and feel of the rest of the station.
Across (underneath) Canal Street is another newer section of the station.
Leaving Union Station we headed down West Jackson Street toward our first official Open House Chicago stop of the day.
But not before passing this great new addition to downtown Chicago, with a massive map of the Chicago River up the entire side of the building.
200 West Jackson Street – The Open House Chicago spot was a 28th floor tenant lounge in a recently remodeled building.
Even though we were on the 28th floor, the Willis/Sears Tower towered over us.
A collection of south loop buildings.
Additional south loop buildings.
Just down the street is the Chicago Board of Trade – one of the classics.
This is Art Deco at it’s finest.
We have been here before, but our New York friend had not – what better way to show him what Chicago has than to come into this lobby!
While minimalist, the elevators are classic Art Deco as well.
As cool as the lobby is – the basement holds another treat, this massive vault door and safe deposit box room.
For the really important stuff – a vault inside a vault.
The security guard/stand up comedian entertained the crowd with his description of the room, and it’s history. He said all he really wanted to be was Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman – and I think he could do it. What a hoot, and informative.
This box is reputed to have belonged to Al Capone.
to be continued…..
RDZ Photography 