Chicago is a bustling town known for its unique charm and lively nightlife. Tourists flock to this major U.S. city from all around the world. Visitors and residents alike find plenty to do in Chicago. Here are a handful of the most popular attractions in the city.

As the largest city in the Midwest, Chicago was originally a water transit hub. Chicago’s lakeshore borders Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes, and the Chicago River runs through downtown. The city was founded in 1830 and soon became a busy industrial metropolis.

Twenty-five years later, in 1855, Chicago built the world’s first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, which stood 10 stories high. Well-known architects added to the city’s skyline. During this time, Chicago became a national retail center, attracting business tycoons, like Marshall Field.

Nicknamed the Windy City, Chicago’s colorful history lends significantly to the major attractions it boasts of today. From recreational activities on the lakefront to stunning architecture in downtown, Chicago continues to satisfy its urban residents and out-of-town tourists with equal zeal.

1. Navy Pier

Navy Pier is recognized as one of Chicago’s premier attractions. Nestled on Chicago’s lakefront, Navy Pier offers families and individuals a wide range of events, free public programs, culture and dining and much more. Navy Pier has reopened since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ride Navy Pier’s Centennial Wheel, which is nearly 200 feet high. The Centennial Wheel gives visitors a breathtaking view of the city skyline, especially as the sun dips behind Lake Michigan at sunset. Visitors capture the spectacular sights even in winter as they sit inside its climate-controlled, heated gondolas.

Residents and tourists go sightseeing on Navy Pier’s many cruises. Architecture cruises give sightseers panoramic city views. Speed boat rides on Lake Michigan are available for thrill seekers. Fireworks light up the city’s night sky in summer, and guests can see them on Navy Pier’s firework cruises.

2. Museums

Chicago’s numerous museums are a testament to the city’s rich cultural scene. Star gazers will find plenty to see at the Adler Planetarium. History buffs can view dinosaur bones at the Field Museum. Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry is ideal for those who appreciate the sciences.

Art museums are abundant in the city. The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the largest in the world. The Museum of Contemporary Art and Smart Museum of Art showcase diverse artwork. A Chicago Children’s Museum is dedicated to enthralling the youngest of museum-goers

3. Skyscrapers

Along with fascinating architecture are majestic skyscrapers that point toward the sky. The Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) was once the tallest building in the world. Visitors can head to the Skydeck and look down from the glass balcony on The Ledge on the 103^rd floor.

The 360 Chicago Observation Deck (formerly the John Hancock Observatory) is another popular destination within the city. Standing at 100 stories and 1,128 feet high, guests have a unique vantage point of the seemingly endless skyline. Its moving platform, TILT, also offers downward views.

4. Food

Deep dish pizza is a Chicago favorite and has earned its place as one of the city’s most iconic foods. The famous pizza pies are served in numerous venues around the city, including popular restaurants, like Giordano’s and Lou Malnati’s.

Chicago-style hotdogs are all the rave in the Windy City. Served without ketchup, the Chicago-style hot dog is topped with mustard, pickles, relish, tomato, onions, peppers and a dash of salt. Several well-known restaurant chains serve this flavorful hotdog on a poppy-seed bun.

5. Chicago Riverwalk

The Chicago River is a treasured natural feature within the city, and the Chicago Riverwalk allows visitors the chance to enjoy the waterway from close up. The Riverwalk is 1.25 miles long and is dotted with restaurants, bars, and plenty of places to people watch on a summer day.

6. Cloud Gate

The official title for one of Chicago’s most popular sculptures is the Cloud Gate. The massive public sculpture reflects the city skyline as well as the green space around Millennial Park—the free public park in which it is famously located.

The Cloud Gate consists entirely of welded stainless steel. The sculpture stands 33 feet high, 42 feet wide and 66 feet long. The work of art weighs approximately 110 tons. Locals nicknamed the sculpture “The Bean”, due to its curved, oblong shape.

7. Lake Michigan

Chicago residents and tourists head to Lake Michigan all year, but crowds especially gather when the weather is inviting. Beaches, like North Avenue and Oak Street, attract sunbathers, while the 18-mile-long Lakefront Trail brings countless bicyclists, walkers and joggers to its paved paths.

Boats may be rented for rides on the lake. Groups may rent a 40-foot boat and cruise along Lake Michigan and then head toward the Chicago River to view the city’s riverfront architecture. A day on the waters of Lake Michigan promises ample relaxation and enjoyment.

Moving to Chicago?

Chicago is a popular destination for leisure seekers and talented job seekers. When the workday is done, the city has plenty to offer. This is one of many reasons why Chicago draws growing corporations. When you aim to relocate your business to the Windy City, choose Chicago Office Movers.

Chicago Office Movers is an experienced moving company with numerous satisfied customers. We have successfully relocated major universities, like Lake Forest College, and well-known companies, like Alcatel Lucent. Our skilled moving crews will relocate your company to greener pastures, too.

Our movers are licensed, background checked, and trained to carefully handle large and fragile office equipment. We ensure your goods remain protected and secure throughout the move. Customers also receive tracking information so they can monitor the progress of their belongings during the move.

Contact Us

Whether your company requires short- or long-term storage options, help with packing and unpacking or add-on services, Chicago Office Movers offers comprehensive moving services to meet all needs. As a Chicago-based office mover, we relocate companies locally, long-distance, or internationally.

Call us at 312-244-2246 for a budget-friendly relocation.

An upcoming office move is an important event for any business. Moving to a bigger building can indicate the company’s growth and success. But the practical logistics of an office move may be less than enjoyable. Here are four tactics to make an office relocation a fun experience.

Staff are comfortably settled in their current workspace; getting accustomed to a new one is undesirable. Plus, personnel will be forced to take a new route to the new office. Employees may need to move. Shifting offices is a big change that may not be exciting—at first.

1. Motivate Employees

Before packing a single office item, it is important to motivate the employees about the upcoming corporate relocation. The first step is to inform staff early on about the office move. Get employees thrilled about the office relocation in any number of fun ways.

It is encouraged to boast about the new office space. Let the employees know about a scenic view, if one is available in the new building. When office equipment will receive an upgrade in the new space, the team members will be eager to try it out.

If it is in the company budget, offer the employees an allowance to buy furniture for their individual offices. The employees will have a say in how their offices will look and function, which gives them reason to feel excited about shifting workspaces.

Offer guided tours of the new office space. If the relocation is local, some employees will be happy to know the new workplace is closer to home or their kids’ schools. A virtual office tour is equally effective when relocating out of state.

Boost morale by providing employees with information about the new neighborhood. Provide menus from local restaurants in the new work vicinity. The staff will be enthusiastic about ordering out from the new office and participating in team lunches and after-work gatherings.

2. Involve Staff

Team members who are involved in the office move are more likely to look forward to it. Hold a meeting to ask the employees what they would like to see in the new office space. An opportunity to provide input gives them a chance to simultaneously unwind and vent.

Welcome suggestions for leisure opportunities in the new office. Examples include a break room featuring a rock-climbing wall, table tennis and video games. Promote the fact that employees will no longer hunch over their desks all day in a hot, humid cubicle.

Staff feel valued when leaders listen to input, from the need for upgraded equipment to improved color schemes. When employees are given the chance to express their voice and feel their opinions matter, they are more likely to contribute to a successful commercial move.

3. Reward Team Members

Personnel who contribute the most to the upcoming office move deserve to be rewarded. Offer prizes and other incentives for team members who submit the best ideas for such things as new meeting room names, color schemes in the new office space or for staying later to help pack.

Incentives may be as simple as new coffee mugs for their new office desks. Or, reward top contributors with the opportunity to pick where they will sit in the new office. Similarly, incentives may include leaving the new office early on a given Friday afternoon.

While preparing for the move, provide office staff with abundant refreshments. Caffeine withdrawal is a downer, as is shelling out hard-earned money for a cup of coffee. Ensure the break room is stocked with fresh coffees, teas, and sodas to keep employees energized throughout the moving process.

4. Celebrate

Getting all the files and office knickknacks packed on time is a milestone in the moving process. Celebrate small wins like these by ordering pizza for the team and incentivizing everyone to dive back in and continue contributing to both the minor and major aspects of the relocation.

Once the relocation is complete, throw an office party to celebrate the success of the move. Take this opportunity to also showcase the new corporate office to clients, customers, and other business associates. Kick off this moment of triumph with a well-earned celebration.

Corporate leaders may also present their hardworking staff with welcome packets for the new office. These packets can include information about the new building, the neighborhood, and local amenities. Consider including personalized water bottles to express gratitude for employees’ contributions.

Remember that once team members have settled into the new office space, it is important to continue showing them that they are valued. Maintain an ample supply of fresh fruits and refreshments so that employees remain hydrated and nourished throughout the workdays.

Work with an Office Mover

Shifting to a new office space is a major milestone for a business. Reaching this point is rarely achieved without the remarkable efforts of team members. The actual move is also significant and cannot be done without reliable help from a reputable moving company, like Chicago Office Movers.

Chicago Office Movers is experienced in commercial moves of all sizes. We have helped move prestigious area companies and universities, such as Alcatel Lucent and the University of Chicago. Our moving crews handle all office goods, equipment, and furniture securely and carefully.

Whether you are moving locally or interstate, our professional moving team will ensure your sensitive equipment is safeguarded. Our moving trucks feature climate-controlled spaces, lift gates and air-ride suspensions. Customers also receive tracking information to follow every step of the move.

Relocating companies will also benefit from our climate-controlled long- and short-term storage facilities. Our moving crews are available for packing and unpacking your office goods. If you need help planning the relocation, our experienced corporate moving specialists will provide assistance.

Contact Us

Whether you are moving delicate artwork, fragile lab equipment or sensitive IT systems, choose Chicago Office Movers. Given our industry experience and excellent reputation, we will help you relocate affordably and on schedule.

Contact us for your upcoming local, long distance or international move at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO).

Chicago is one of the most popular and populated cities in the U.S.  It has one of the most recognizable skylines in the world dominated by the Willis Tower (still called the Sears Tower by locals) and is home to many landmarks and attractions that draw visitors from all over the globe.

About the City of Chicago

Chicago is also a city of historical significance as industry within the city helped develop the western U.S. in the 19^th century, and it is a major cultural center as many artists, writers, actors, and musicians have hailed from Chicago.  Many prominent businesses were started in Chicago, including Sears and Marshall Fields (now Macy’s), and many businesses still operate out of Chicago and the surrounding areas including Boeing, Walgreen’s, United Airlines, and more.

This Chicago Flag

When one thinks of Chicago, several visuals may come to mind, including the Sears Tower, the Lakefront, Navy Pier, and the Bean.  One symbol of Chicago that is recognizable across the U.S. is the city flag.

The Chicago flag has a simple design with 3 white stripes, 2 sky blue stripes, and 4 red 6-pointed stars and different representations of this design can be found all throughout the city.  The flag is flown in homes, outside of businesses and government buildings, and at public parks.  It can also be seen in graffiti art and some Chicago residents even incorporate the design into their tattoos as a display of city pride.

The Chicago flag is easily one of the most recognizable city flags in the U.S. and each symbol on the flag represents something about the Windy City.  In this guide, we will cover the history and meaning behind the design of the Chicago flag.  If you own or manage a business and are interested in moving your operation to Chicago, our commercial movers at Chicago Office Movers can help with every aspect of your business relocation.

History of the Chicago Flag

The history of the Chicago flag starts in 1915 when then Mayor of Chicago William Hale Thompson created a municipal flag commission.  This commission was asked to hold an open public competition in which people submitted their design for a Chicago flag.  The winning design was submitted by a man named Wallace Rice and his design was adopted as the city’s flag in 1917.

At its inception in 1917, the Chicago flag had the design that is familiar to us today, but with only two stars.  In 1933, the third star was added and in 1939, the fourth star was added.  The design of the Chicago flag has remained unchanged since the addition of the fourth star.

Chicago Flag Design

Every element of the Chicago flag symbolizes something in relation to the city.  To put it generally, the white and blue stripes represent the city in a geographical sense, the stars represent historical events, and each point of the star represents concepts and virtues related to the historical events.

Bars

The bars on the Chicago flag consist of three white bars at the top, bottom, and middle of the flag, separated by two sky blue bars.  Each of these bars represent the following geographical aspects of the city:

• Top white bar: The North Side of Chicago
• Top blue bar: Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River
• Middle white bar: The West Side of Chicago
• Bottom blue bar: The Great Canal and South Branch of the Chicago River
• Bottom white bar: The South Side of Chicago

Chicago was established on the shore of Lake Michigan in the early 1800s because the Lake, Chicago River, and the Great Canal that connects the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River made it easy to import and export goods by water.  Because of this, Chicago’s downtown area developed on the shore of Lake Michigan and the city could only spread north, west, and south, creating the main geographical regions of the city known as the North Side, West Side, and South Side.

Stars

The four stars of the Chicago flag represent important historical events that occurred in the first 100 years of the city’s history.  Each of the 6 points of these stars also symbolize virtues, concepts, and accomplishments related to the historical events.

• The Great Chicago Fire: The first star which was featured on the flag’s original design stands for the Great Chicago Fire that occurred in 1871. The Great Fire occurred when most of the city’s buildings were made from wood and it burnt much of the city to the ground.  Chicago’s subsequent recovery and literal rise from the ashes showed the resiliency and city pride of its residents.  The six points of this star represent transportation, heath, population, finance, commerce, and labor.
• World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893: The second star from the original 1917 design represents the World’s Columbian Exposition which was held in Chicago in 1893. The exposition was held in Jackson Park in a temporary fairground known as the White City.  It drew over 27 million visitors from around the world between May and October of 1893 and this event had a profound effect on Chicago’s arts, architecture, and self-image.  The six points of this star represent religion, civic sport, beneficence, justice, aesthetics, and education.
• Century of Progress International Exposition: This third star which was added to the flag in 1933 represents the Century of Progress International Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, which was held from May 27, 1933 through October 31, 1934. This fair was held as a celebration of the city’s centennial and the theme was technological innovation.  It was also a celebration of Chicago’s rise to become the second largest city in the U.S. (now third largest behind New York and Los Angeles).  The six points of this star stand for world’s third largest city, convention city, wonder city, great central market, the “I will” motto, and the city motto urbs in horto (city in a garden).
• Fort Dearborn: The final star added to the flag in 1939 represents the founding of Fort Dearborn in 1803. Fort Dearborn was built along the Chicago River before the formal establishment of the city, and it was reconstructed in 1816 after being destroyed in the Battle of Fort Dearborn in the War of 1812.  While European and American settlers had already reached and settled in the area that became Chicago, the opening of Fort Dearborn resulted in a permanent small settlement being developed in the surrounding area which grew to become Chicago.  The six points of this star represent every political entity that Chicago once belonged to including France 1693, England 1693-1763, Virginia 1763-1778, Northwest Territory 1798, Indiana Territory 1798-1802, and Illinois statehood 1818.

The Chicago city flag remains one of the most popular and recognizable city flags in the U.S. and has been named the second-best flag in multiple surveys, coming in second to the Washington, D.C. city flag.

There have been proposals for adding a fifth star to represent various people and events including the city’s first African American mayor Harold Washington, the founding of the Special Olympics, and even the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s and Cubs 2016 World Series.  However, it is expected that the city will stick with the current iconic design.

Relocate Your Business to Chicago

Chicago is a great America city that is home to world renowned businesses and institutions and a proud populace.  There are many great reasons to move your business to Chicago, including access to a young and tech savvy workforce, access to the third largest market in the U.S., access to two international airports, and lower taxes than the east and west coast.  If you want to endear your business to the local workforce, customers, and clients, be sure to fly or display the Chicago city flag.

Chicago Office Movers is a professional commercial moving company that can help you move your business to the city of Chicago or the surrounding Chicago suburbs.  Our licensed, union commercial movers will help manage every aspect of your move to make your office relocation as seamless as possible.

You can reach us at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO) for more information about our office relocation and commercial moving services.