The Wrigley Building
4.7(4.2K)google
4.7(26)yelp
City LandmarkHistoric BuildingPhoto Spot
Overview
The Wrigley Building is a breathtaking, historical architectural masterpiece that stands proudly as the gateway anchor to the famous Magnificent Mile at the Michigan Avenue bridge. Completed in the early 1920s as the corporate headquarters for the famous chewing gum magnate, this stunning French Renaissance Revival monument is clad in over 250,000 gleaming, individually glazed white terra-cotta tiles that beautifully reflect the sunlight. Crowned by a dramatic, ornate clock tower modeled after Seville's Giralda, the building is brilliantly illuminated by heavy spotlights at night, casting a magical, timeless romantic glow over the riverfront.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 20-30 minutes
Best TimeHighly recommended to view at night. This architectural icon, faced with gleaming white terracotta, is fully illuminated after dark by high-powered floodlights, creating a breathtaking ivory-white glow against the river canyon. The finest viewpoints and photo angles are from the opposite Riverwalk.
Getting ThereCommanding the southernmost anchor of the Magnificent Mile, just north of the DuSable Bridge. Take the 'L' Red Line to Grand station, then walk south down N Michigan Avenue for about 4 minutes to arrive directly beneath the building's historic clock tower plaza.
Travel Tips
- The north and south towers function strictly as active private corporate offices and are completely closed to tourists. General visitors are restricted to the open-air central plaza and ground retail; passing the security turnstiles without an office badge is banned.
- The Magnificent Mile frontage outside the building is a zero-tolerance traffic zone; cars and Ubers stopping for even seconds will be immediately ticketed. Drivers must use parking garages on Illinois St; set your rideshare app pin to the rear plaza drive instead.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- Avoid shooting from the crowded sidewalks right beneath the facade. Walk south to the southeastern staircase flank of the DuSable Bridge across the river. This mid-range vantage perfectly aligns the building's central clock tower symmetry with the flowing river basin.
Reviews
Positive
- This terracotta-clad Spanish Revival Deco skyscraper sparkles off the Magnificent Mile; its iconic clock tower delivers a majestic visual impact.
- The open plaza connecting the towers links smoothly to the Riverwalk and is free to visit, maximizing architectural depth and historic value.
- The location is premium with clear directional signage and extensive transit links; the street-level plazas feature clean, cozy resting seating.
- The buildings look spectacular under night illumination; the lobby features high-standard accessible modern elevators and tight security order.
Heads up
- As an active commercial office skyscraper and corporate headquarters, the upper levels are locked off, preventing tourists from exploring.
- Sitting in a premier commercial shopping hub, outdoor pedestrian density is always high and noisy, lacking any calm historical aura.
- The structure lacks dedicated public restrooms, lockers, or history galleries for casual tourists, making a quick walk-by feel a bit brief.
- Nearby commercial parking garages charge extortionate rates with zero free options, making it highly unfriendly for long driving stops.