Chicago Board of Trade Building, Chicago

Standing tall like a stone sentinel at the heart of Chicago鈥檚 financial district, the Chicago Board of Trade Building doesn鈥檛 whisper authority but shouts it in bold syllables. This 45-story tower, conceived during the height of the Art Deco era by architects John A. Holabird and John Wellborn Root Jr., made its grand entrance in 1930, right when ziggurats and geometric glam were all the rage.

Clad in gray Indiana limestone and shadowy recesses, the facade shoots upward with the confidence of a stockbroker on a winning streak. It鈥檚 all about vertical drama鈥攍ean, clean, and mean. Art Deco lovers, get ready: the crisp lines, stylized ornamentation, and throne-like silhouette make this building less of an office block and more of a sculpted sermon in stone.

But wait鈥攍ook up. Capping it all off like a literal cherry on top is a pyramidal crown, stoically guarded by a faceless aluminum goddess: Ceres, the Roman deity of agriculture. Sculpted by John Storrs, she鈥檚 got no face鈥攂ecause who needs one when you鈥檝e got that kind of industrial-era mystique? Her smooth gown and robotic vibe scream 1930s modernism, wrapped in a toga.

In short, this building is a temple to commerce, a monument to style, and a prime example of how Chicago doesn't just build high鈥攊t builds with swagger.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Chicago Board of Trade Building
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Loop District Architecture Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois

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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles

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