Navy Pier celebrated its 100th birthday in 2016. When this iconic city landmark was first proposed by visionary Chicago architect Daniel Burnham more than a century ago, Municipal Pier (as it was then known) was intended to be a free, public place for Chicagoans and visitors alike to gather, commune with the lakefront, take a boat ride, and otherwise enjoy life in the Windy City. Today, Navy Pier is returning to its roots as “The People’s Pier” through a comprehensive physical and programmatic transformation designed to make the Pier a more inviting, attractive space for guests to connect with nature, the city, and one another.
I helped capture the Pier’s transformation over the course of the summer of 2016, attending events such as the opening of the Centennial Wheel, the Pier’s 100th birthday celebration, and its first-ever Pier Pride event. The photos in this gallery provide a glimpse into the lives of those who have visited Navy Pier—those who have helped to ring in the Pier’s second century as a revitalized public space that inspires discovery and wonder at every turn.
