Chicago 2023 Winter Trip

 We got the winter wanderlust and decided to take an Amtrak trip to Chicago and visit the Chicago Auto Show, explore architecture in the Loop and check out the Museum of Science and Industry.

Union Station is beautiful

We lucked out and had good winter weather while there. The one day of light rain resulted in our using the underground 'Pedway" pedestrian walkways to get around and stay dry while moving around the Loop. The Pedway under Macy's includes a well done display of stained glass.

We strolled thru some of Chicago's famed architecture and enjoyed the beauty of the Cultural Center, the former Chicago library, and its wonderful Tiffany Dome.

Julie noticed this amazing floor treatment. The left side of the image is a tera cotta type tile while the right side has the tile pattern duplicated in carpet.

Taking a break

There are multiple domes to enjoy in the Cultural Center

The Museum of Science and Industry is always fun.

This is a mirror maze found in a display all about patterns

Your task is to make it thru without unduly bumping into mirrors

The Zephyr ushered in a new era of railroad technology

We met my sister there and had a nice visit while overlooking U-505, a Type IX WWII German submarine captured on the high seas

I especially enjoyed the exhibit describing the changes shipping containers have made on our lives

The exterior columns of the Rokery always intrigue me with their apparent transition from granite rock to the decorative shape and then to the finished result.

We purchased a 10 ride pass on METRA to cover our travel to McCormick place for the Auto Show and to the Museum of Science and Industry. The trains were not crowded at all, so much so I asked the conductor about it. He told me the pandemic resulted in lots of folks working from home and that ridership has not rebounded from that event.

We stopped in Macy's (former Marshall Fields department store) to admire the architecture. Beautiful store - we must have picked a quiet time to go as there were not a lot of shoppers there. 

We stopped in the Chicago Architecture Center to see their exhibits and movie about Chicago architecture. This is their new (to us) Wacker Drive facility. In addition to the wonderful model of Chicago they also had a 'City in a Snow Globe' display about winter fun projects for Chicago.

The Auto Show was fun. We got to see a number of concept vehicles and the competition between Ford Bronco and Jeep in highlighting their off road prowess using a wide variety of indoor test tracks.

Toyota had several concept vehicles dealing with 'Mobility'

This looks like it should be a concept vehicle, but is instead the new production Prius.

Toyota really got the styling of this one right

Stellantis had the Chrysler Airflow concept on display 

Also the RAM electric truck concept

Cadillac had their Lyriq on display

Buicks concept car

Julie checking out the Hyundai Elantra N - a street legal go kart with incredible performance

One of the varieties of off road test tracks to take show goers for a ride

On the way back from the Auto Show we took a break from sight seeing and found comfortable seats in the Harold Washington Public Library, founds a few good books and enjoyed reading for a few hours. The library offers a tour guide pamphlet that serves as a self guided tour of the facility and the various exhibits and artwork to be sure and see.

 

The ninth floor is the highlight and is a most beautiful study area.

We waited for our return train to Kansas in the Amtrak Metropolitan lounge overlooking the Great Hall in Union Station.

Great art work

Julie enjoyed her perfectly cooked flank steak in the dining car on the way home.

We watch our train depart after dropping us off and leaving us to look forward to the next trip.