Navy Pier located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago has been a staple of the city's history
for over a century from its Inception as a part of Daniel Burnham's plan for Chicago in
1916 to its present day status as a beloved destination for tourists and locals alike
Navy Pier has undergone a series of exciting Transformations that make it one of the most
fascinating landmarks in the city despite its popularity the structure has many unusual and
forgotten features such as a streetcar line that once ran directly onto the pier today we
discover Chicago's Navy Pier I'm your host Ryan sokash and you're watching its history [Music]
foreign so why does Chicago have a pier that's 3 300 feet long with a total surface area of 50
acres well believe it or not this Marvel was part of the so-called master plan of Chicago
and when it opened to the public in 1916 the name was Municipal Pier but had you seen the
state of the river and Lakefront back then the concept might have seemed outright insane
you see Navy Pier's location would have been entirely different looking before the turn of
the century the mouth of the river was occupied by Massive grain silos which at the time were
as iconic to Chicago's image as the Sears Tower might be today and flowing past those silos was
some rather wretched water from the mouth of the river to Goose Island Chicago's Waterfront was
highly industrial congested and polluted by toxins routinely dumped into the water ranging from raw
sewage to chemicals it was a nasty place making matters worse all that waste ran directly into
the lake which was also the city's water supply and as you might imagine tap water was frequently
causing people to fall ill the town initially tried to solve this problem by tunneling under
the lake and building water cribs further offshore but ultimately they decided to reverse the water
flow in 1900 the reversal was accomplished thanks to a 28 mile long Canal that ultimately drained
into the Mississippi now the other massive benefit of the Chicago sanitarian ship canal historically
known as the Chicago drainage Canal is that it enabled passage to an entirely new commercial
Market although waterborne Freight via these systems only makes up a tiny percentage of
goods these days during the turn of the century it was a big deal as railroads were still developing
and trucking wasn't the best option for Long Haul hence many more ships would be visiting
Chicago in the coming years and Pier was needed but not just any peer you see Burnham's plan for
Chicago called for the lakefront to be a place of Beauty for the people reading quote the lakefront
by the rights belonged to the people not a foot of its Shore should be appropriated to the exclusion
of the people hence elements of recreation and elegance were to be a significant theme
the first widely available sketch of the piers concept was published in 1909 featuring massive
diagonal docks for package Freight and passenger Steamers now when you put this side by side with
modern day satellite imagery the projected location of the pier is where the city's water
treatment plant now stands this is deceptive because it suggests that a natural island or
Sandbar may have already existed yet when you examine old photographs from before the pier was
built it's clear that there was previously nothing but water the plan of Chicago embraced the concept
of being connected to the rails it was initially believed that five massive peers would be needed
to support the city's needs still authorities quickly settled on just one with the following
intention reading from the plan of Chicago The Proposal is to create a Central Freight Depot and
common track facilities owned and operated by all railroads in Chicago to handle Freight business
quickly and cheaply the depot should be located in an economical spot and equipped to handle all
incoming and departing freight trains the mutual relations of the depot warehouses and tracks are
expected to produce efficient handling of goods if perfected Chicago have a unique advantage over
other Trade Centers and be fully equipped to handle its Destiny the docks at the mouth of
the Chicago River are also suggested for package Freight steamers the original concept called for
far more rail to be installed reading this center of gravity is at or near the location shown on
the diagram here should be trackish capable of handling in the best manner all freight trains
coming into or departing from Chicago which are intended to do business other than local and
Suburban it should be arranged so that individual incoming cars can be promptly placed beside the
planned unloading platform or Warehouse where the goods can be handled with dispatch and as large as
possible by Machinery at this rate the center may be the great Warehouse of the city arranged about
the tracks and service these Mutual relations must produce an economy of handling goods and
an economy of the closest sort if the car and truck service are perfected from the freight train
standpoint Chicago will have an advantage not possessed by any other World Trade Center and her
equipment will be fully equal to her Destiny the top results would be the quick handling of freight
trains by all roads and their rapid unloading and reloading ultimately the mouth of the Calumet
ended up being a far more suitable location to create this landscape and hence Navy Pier was to
take on a very different form from its original plan construction of a single massive Port was
about to commence Burnham passed away in 1912 yet the harbor and Subway commission engaged architect
Charles Sumner Frost to design the first five Piers the city planned to build and what would
become Navy Pier Frost stayed true to Burnham's Vision by creating two double decker Freight and
passenger sheds in the middle of the pier to serve business needs along with classically
designed buildings at the head and foot of the dock to serve as great places for public assembly
the construction of Navy Pier began in 1914 following the approval of the plan by the
Chicago plan commission the pier was designed by Charles Sumner Frost and constructed by the
engineering firm of James A Dickinson and Company the original design of Navy Pier was for a 3
000 foot long pier still the final length of the pier was extended to 3 300 feet to accommodate
the growing demand for commercial shipping in the Great Lakes region the construction of Navy Pier
was a massive project involving state-of-the-art construction techniques and materials the pier
was built using a combination of concrete steel and Timber and the docks Foundation was anchored
into the lake bed using thousands of pilings the pier was also equipped with a network of
electrical and water supply systems there was also a firefighting system during the
construction of Navy Pier thousands of workers were employed and they worked Around the Clock
to complete the project the workers were housed in a temporary on-site camp and provided with
food Medical Care and recreational facilities when it was completed the construction of Navy Pier or
Municipal Pier as it was known was considered a significant achievement for the workers who took
great pride in their accomplishment and in the fact that they had contributed to the creation
of a landmark that would be enjoyed by generations to come construction was completed in 1916 and the
pier was officially open to the public on July the 15th 1916. Municipal Pier number two opened
in 1916 and it was the first to combine the shipping business with the pleasure of public
entertainment at five million dollars the 292 foot wide Pier built by the city for the people
was the largest in the world projecting East 3040 feet into Lake Michigan and even today it Remains
the longest of its kind the opening of Navy Pier was a prideful moment for the city and although
Recreation was always intended to be a part of the structure's purpose the original version was more
utility based and Industrial looking train tracks accessed the piers outer area to transport goods
and supplies to and from docked ships the trains served as a convenient and efficient way to load
and unload cargo later making it easier to supply military ships and installations on the pier the
tracks on the dock were connected to the leading Railway Network allowing trains to transport cargo
to and from the pier with ease these days Navy Pier has an endless slew of attractions from
its Ferris wheel Crystal Gardens and ice skating rink to restaurants light exhibitions sightseeing
cruises and shopping but this wasn't always the case in the beginning the festivities were limited
to parade type events or ceremonies held in The Splendid 18 000 square foot grand ballroom with
a sweeping 80-foot Dome ceiling and panoramic views of the lake event attendees and workers
alike could visit the pier thanks to trolley tracks which operated on the pier itself via an
internal Loop and with time this became a unique feature you see Navy Pier's trolley line was a
popular mode of transportation that operated on the pier from its opening in 1916 to the 1960s
trolley line number seven that serviced the pier was a part of a more extensive network of trolleys
throughout Chicago and integral to the peers Transportation infrastructure at its peak the
trolley line was a bustling Hub of activity with trolley cars coming and going from the pier all
day long visitors could even board the trolleys at various points along the pier itself and enjoy
Scenic views of Lake Michigan and the city as they traveled in addition to being a popular
mode of transportation the trolley line was also a significant attraction in its own right drawing
visitors to the pier just just to experience a ride the exact trolley route changed forms on
several occasions at one point being relegated to an outer drop-off area when the ramp and internal
route were converted to accommodate trucks and cars this era was known as the piers Civic
Glory Days billed as the greatest collection of business and Industrial exhibits the city had seen
since the 1893 world's Colombian Exposition at one point a two-week summer pageant Drew in more than
a million visitors with Thrills like skydiving stunts speedboat races and mock pirate attacks
naturally the pier became a prominent feature on the lakefront reaching a peak of commercial
and cultural success in the 1920s and serving as a bustling Civic Center which attracted over 3.2
million people for events such as live music plays art exhibits and more in 1927 as a tribute to Navy
personnel who served in World War One Municipal Pier number two was officially renamed Navy Pier
in their honor into the 1930s the pier saw a gradual decline in its shipping activities but
compensation was made as this allowed the facility to Hold Steady as a Convention Center they hosted
The Flower and Garden Show the national motor truck show the automotive service industry show
and other major events in many ways Navy Pier had become the heart of Chicago but it was not to last
the Great Depression struck its blow and later popularity would decline in the 1940s when package
Freighters and Excursion boats gradually stopped serving the pier then rail Freight and the onset
of automobiles and trucks crippled water-borne shipping altogether as the city's financial
situation fell apart the four additional piers were abandoned so in 1941 new business was needed
Hope was in sight when the U.S Navy decided to occupy the space and convert it into the
largest training facility of its kind in the world serving an important role in the Allied war effort
in fact by 1946 more than 60 thousand Sailors and Marines had learned to become metalsmiths
Aviation mechanics and Diesel operators at Navy Pier when U.S forces left the pier the University
of Illinois leased the area as classrooms a library and gymnasium for the University of
Illinois's first campus in Chicago this was a Saving Grace having such prestigious tenants
upheld the peers historical significance then by the 1950s it regained commercial success as
a home for trade shows astonishingly the pier also resumed its terminal service when the Saint Laura
Seaway opened in 1959 thanks to this new passage it became possible for major Atlantic vessels to
access the Great Lakes hence a commemorative visit from Queen Elizabeth II took place with the late
Queen recalling quote an unforgettable day though in the long run it was unlikely that Atlantic ship
traffic would accumulate here as Chicago's Port had opened in a different location that same
year not to mention air traffic had started transatlantic flights from Chicago operated
by Pan-American Airways as far back as 1939. streetcars were also on their way out by the
mid-1960s trolley systems popularities overall were declining as more cities began replacing
them with buses and Automobiles and so the trolley line at Navy Pier was eventually discontinued in
favor of other forms of transportation hence the tracks were torn up and removed Forever
at this time Chicago was still identified as the greatest Inland port in the world as more
than 250 foreign vessels would Dock at the pier during the brief Resurgence of the Great Lakes
shipping industry but the Seaway ultimately failed to generate enough International Trade
to keep the pier competitive with the more modern facilities at Lake Calumet and so it was the late
1960s abruptly ended the piers popularity as a major shipping Port this is perhaps the moment
of our era that most pre-born 1995 Might Recall Navy Pier seemingly disattached from the city
desolate looking and with without many purposes desperately needed maintenance was halted and
the once Grand Pier looked more like the set of a horror movie Burnham's Vision was turning to smoke
architecturally speaking I believe far more important Chicago buildings have been lost
to the wrecking ball Chicago's Federal Building Madison Street Terminal and Chicago Stadium to
name a few but the case of Navy Pier is different the city acted graciously designating the entire
structure a landmark in 1976 and then in 1978 hosting Chicago Fest which Drew in millions of
visitors with music food and entertainment guests enjoyed performances from Frank Sinatra cool in
the gang Alice Cooper and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this event eventually grew to become
the Taste of Chicago imagine that Frank Sinatra singing Chicago cool singing celebration this not
only started Chicago's most famous Annual Festival but drew the attention Navy Pier needed to become
what it is today a protected landmark of Chicago by 1989 the Illinois General Assembly created the
Metropolitan pier and Exposition authority to manage both Navy Pier's Redevelopment and
McCormick places expansion the city subsequently sold the pier to mpea For a symbolic ten dollars
and the state government provided another 150 million dollars to redevelop the pier as a part
of the public infrastructure Improvement program by 1995 Navy Pier reopened and entered its most
refined and celebrated status yet historic Navy Pier is among the most visited destinations in
the world since its reopening in 1995 the pier has welcomed more than 186 million guests including a
record-breaking 9.3 million guests in 2006. Navy Pier has enjoyed a remarkable Evolution initially
designed for shipping and recreational purposes the facility has evolved into
to a Premier Entertainment and Exposition Center it holds a special place in our hearts a place of
Rich cultural heritage and vibrant public spaces for all to enjoy whether taking in stunning
views of Lake Michigan EX exploring interactive exhibits or enjoying a day out with family and
friends Navy Pier provides endless entertainment education and Community Building opportunities for
generations of Chicagoans it has been a place to unite and make cherished memories that will
last a lifetime and we'll leave it there for today but if you'd like to watch these episodes
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Thursday and Saturday at 6 PM Eastern until next time this is Ryan silkash signing off