The Guinness sailing ship at anchor by Navy Pier 1937
Copyright 2005 David R. Phillps

Navy Pier has enjoyed a remarkable evolution. Originally designed for shipping and recreational purposes, the facility has evolved into a premiere entertainment center. It also provides state-of-the-art meeting space perfectly suited for small-to-medium sized trade shows. Come experience all that Navy Pier has to offer year-round!

Detailing its successful rebirth as one of Chicago's most important historical landmarks, the following timeline illustrates the challenges and changes faced by Navy Pier over the years.

1909 Daniel Burnham creates the "Master Plan of Chicago" which originally envisioned five piers. Eventually, only one 1.5 mile long recreational pier with freight and passenger ship docking facilities was commissioned to be built near the mouth of the Chicago River.

1914 Construction begins under the direction of the nationally known architect Charles Sumner Frost. Completed in two years, construction of the Pier costs $4.5 million.

1916 Municipal Pier opens to the public. It is the only pier to combine the business of shipping with the pleasure of public entertainment.

1917-1918 When the U.S. enters World War I, the Pier houses several regiments of soldiers, Red Cross and Home Defense units as well as a barracks for recruits.

1918 - 1921 The Pier boasts its own streetcar line, theater, restaurants and an emergency hospital.

1921- 1922 The Pier enters its "golden age" of recreational and cultural activity as Chicago Mayor William H. Thompson's "Pageants of Progress" draw nearly a million visitors during 15 days of events.

1926 The Chicago Federation of Labor establishes its pioneer radio station and transmission for WCFL, "the voice of labor," in the north tower.

1927 Municipal Pier is officially renamed Navy Pier as a tribute to Navy personnel who served during World War I.

1930 - 1940 Navy Pier's freight and passenger traffic declines, though cultural and recreational use continues despite the onset of the Great Depression.

1942 Pilot training orientation commences and eventually 15,000 pilots are qualified, including a young airman named George H.W. Bush. As many as 200 WWII planes still rest at the bottom of Lake Michigan as a result of accidents during training.

1945 The Navy operated various training programs at the pier throughout the war. Those enrolled might become aviation machinist's mate, metal smiths or diesel engine technicians. By the time training ceased in July 1946, some sixty thousand people - including sailors from Great Britain, Canada, Brazil and Peru- were trained at the pier.

1946 The Navy moves out and the University of Illinois takes up residence, transforming the facility into a two-year undergraduate branch campus that remains in existence until 1965. The Navy's main mess hall becomes a giant library considered "the largest reading room" in Illinois.

1950 - 1960 The Pier handles 12-16 huge trade shows/exhibits and social events annually. Until McCormick Place opens in 1960, all trade shows in Chicago are held either on Navy Pier or at the Union Stockyards Amphitheater.

1959 The Pier is widened by 100 feet with the construction of the South Dock. At its peak in 1964, Navy Pier was handling 250 overseas vessels annually and was one of the greatest inland ports in the world.

1960 The city's first Holiday Folk Fest is held at the Pier, featuring food and products from countries represented by Chicago's many ethnic groups.

1965 The University of Illinois moves from Navy Pier to its new Circle Campus, just west of the city.

1967 The original McCormick Place is destroyed by fire and Navy Pier helps keep many conventions and trade shows in Chicago for the four years it takes to rebuild McCormick Place.

1970 - 1975 Navy Pier falls into disuse.

1976 The spectacular Grand Ballroom undergoes a renovation as part of the city's observance of the country's Bicentennial Celebration.

1977 Navy Pier is designated a Chicago Landmark.

1978 - 1982 Navy Pier hosts ChicagoFest, drawing millions of visitors with music, food and entertainment.

1989 The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) is created by the state legislature to manage and operate both McCormick Place and Navy Pier. The Authority moves swiftly to redesign Navy Pier into one of the country's most unique exposition and recreation facilities.

1994 As part of the $150 million Navy Pier redevelopment project, improvements are made to nearly every aspect of the Pier. The 1,500-seat outdoor Skyline Stage opens to the public.

July 12, 1995 Navy Pier is reborn, featuring a mix of year-round entertainment, shops, restaurants, attractions and exhibition facilities.

1996 Navy Pier celebrates its first anniversary season.

1997 Navy Pier officials and the Shakespeare Repertory Theater announce plans to build Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier. Additionally, construction is completed on a new six-story parking garage, bringing the number of on-site parking spots to 1,740. Navy Pier draws record attendance with an estimated seven million visitors between July 1996 and June 1997.

1998 Navy Pier hosts the City of Chicago's first-ever Tall Ships festival.

1999 Navy Pier opens its newest attraction, Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Modeled after London's Swan Theatre, it features an intimate 525-seat courtyard-style theater with unequaled views of the lakefront, an English-style pub, a studio theater, a bookstore, a Teacher's Resource Center and an English Garden.

2000 The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows debuts at Navy Pier. It is the first museum in the United States dedicated solely to stained glass windows. This permanent display of 150 stained glass windows is housed in an 800-ft.-long series of galleries along the lower level terraces of Festival Hall. It showcases both secular and religious windows and is divided by artistic theme into four categories: Victorian, Prairie, Modern and Contemporary.

2005 Navy Pier celebrates the 10th anniversary of its re-opening, with a special ceremony in which city and state leaders, VIP guests and MPEA officials thank the estimated 76 million guests who have visited the site during the past decade. The tribute ceremony culminates with performances by the renowned South Shore Drill Team, a fly-over by the Lima Lima Air Team and the introduction of a new Navy Pier mascot, named Patch.

2006

• Navy Pier hosts Cirque Shanghai, a crowd-pleasing performance of Chinese acrobats and contortionists that draws tens of thousands of visitors to the Pepsi Skyline Stage.

• Navy Pier again plays host to the popular Tall Ships Chicago 2006 event. Hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans board majestic maritime sailing vessels docked at Navy Pier and along the Chicago River.

2007

• Navy Pier featured in the March issue of Crain’s Chicago Business for maintaining its status as the #1 Tourist attraction in Chicago.

• Navy Pier named in Midwest Living Magazine as the #1 location in Illinois to take an out-of-town guest.

• In September, the Navy Pier Ferris wheel, presented by McDonald's® reaches a significant milestone: its 10 millionth rider. Ronald McDonald and Patch the Pirate Dog, Navy Pier’s mascot, were on hand to award an array of prizes to the lucky rider.

2008

• Navy Pier featured in the March/April Issue of West Suburban Living as Chicago Area's #1 Must-Go Place to take out-of-town guests.

• Navy Pier honored by Illinois Meetings & Events Magazine with the "Best Of" Award in the category of Chicago Attractions.

• In July, Navy Pier hosts the Hollywood-style Red Carpet move premiere of "The Dark Knight". Scenes from the movie were filmed at Navy Pier. Navy Pier IMAX Theater hosts 75+ hours of continuous screenings during the film’s opening weekend.

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