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This, of course, is the Sears Tower. I mean the Willis Tower. When you walk by it, it just BEGS to be photographed from the base. In the past, I've actually thrown myself down on the sidewalk to capture the best angle.
When this building was originally completed in 1973, it was actually the tallest building in the world, and it held that honor for 25 years. (I actually went up in this tower for the first time in 1976.) The Sears naming rights expired in 2003, but it was in 2009 when London-based insurance broker Willis Group Holdings leased part of the building and bought the rights did the name officially change. Willis Schmillis. It will always be Sears to me.
On this particular trip, we did NOT go up to the top - there was a 2 hour wait, which is common in the summer. We've been up there a number of times, and it is actually worth the wait if you've never been. They show you a great movie that was made to document the construction and design of the building, and at the top there are many photographs and memorabilia surrounding the history of Chicago (fans of "Devil in the White City" will love this).
In 2009, when Willis put their name on the place, they invested in a major overhaul of the Skydeck, which included a glass-bottom extension that sticks out over Wacker Drive. This would be on the 103rd floor guys. No thanks. I would have to lay on the thing because my legs wouldn't work with that kind of view.
12 comments:
Ha!! I think the glass bottom would be awesome. Mr. BRF would be backed up against the solid wall.
It will always be the Sears Tower to me as well. I'm petrified of heights but did make it to the top one day without collapsing in a puddle - I did cling madly to the wall while I was up there but I was up there. Once was enough for me.
It's always funny when something so prominently known changes names. For the most part the name never fully takes hold. People either call it that still or you have to remind them that it's now called something else.
Huh, I bet it was 1977 or 78 when I first took a ride to the top of the Sears Building. OF COURSE, I still call it that. ;)
Woot for Chicago posts today! I love that you still call it Sears, it will always be that to me. Also, there's no way I would do the glass floor thign either, I think I would throw up.
What a great angle for this photo! I also wouldn't want to go one the glass bit on the 103rd floor. I am scared of heights. This is a place I would like to visit.
The glass floor would draw the same reaction from me that the 'new' observing platform over the Grand Canyon does: collapse in fear. ;-)
A two hour wait! Just to go to the top? That's an amazing photo, Sandy.
No Skydeck for me.
and I am not going out on the glass extension over the Grand Canyon either.
No, no.
I've never been to the top of the Sears Tower.
It will always be the Sears Tower to me too. I've never been up, but I did walk on the glass floor of the CN Tower in Toronto and it made me sick!
How cool! I wouldn't be able to make it to the top as I'm scared of heights but picturing you laying on the sidewalk to get a good shot is hilarious.
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