A magnificently cold mile

First of all, let me say there are no hard feelings. I know all of you have been very concerned that I would be upset that nobody showed up to take the 84th tour of the Around Chicago in 85 Tours challenge with me, but really…I’m ok…

But honestly, I can’t blame you. If I wasn’t taking the challenge I probably wouldn’t have gone either. Even though I’d been on tours in torrential rain, blizzards and excruciating heat…the weather during the Magnificent Mile tour in early December 2010 was by far the worst.

From what I remember, (sorry, part of my brain is still thawing out), it was approximately negative 1000 degrees outside with a wind chill of about 1 million below. To top it off, this tour was on Michigan Avenue, right along the Lake where the wind gusts were ferocious.

However, Anna, the lucky docent for the arctic Magnificent Mile tour was a trooper. In a moment of weakness I even told her that it was perfectly ok with me if we cut the tour short due to the serious risk of frostbite, but bless her heart, she wouldn’t listen to any such heresy and in her charming British accent said, “Oh no, dear! We can make it through! Look…we can stand for a spot in this little nook where it’s warm”. Mind you, in this case "warm" meant "only one or two of your limbs might freeze and fall off."

It was even too cold for the lady who stands on the sidewalk donned head to toe in animal pelts trying to entice people to buy coats from the furrier—she was standing inside the store. As we walked by she gave us a horrified look, (probably wondering who the two loonies were braving that weather), but quickly remembered her duties and indicated to me that I needed to buy a fur coat. All I could do was try to nod as I leaned into the wind, pushing north on Michigan Avenue.

But let me jump off that tangent and get to the tour.

Naturally, the Magnificent Mile tour explores one of the most recognized avenues in the country—Michigan Avenue. Being somewhat of a shopping junkie myself, I am quite familiar with the merchants along Michigan Avenue…even if I can’t afford most of them. But this stretch of Michigan Avenue also has some amazing architecture to ogle, including the Wrigley Building, the Hotel Intercontinental, the Drake Hotel and, of course, the Water Tower and Pumping Station.

However, where Anna and I spent a good chunk of the tour was inside the Fourth Presbyterian Church (hey, we’re no dummies). This is one of those places on my list that I had walked by a million times and had never taken the time to really explore.


4th Presbyterian Church

Fourth Presbyterian had a bit of a rocky start. It was formed in 1871 when the North Presbyterian Church and the Westminster Church merged at Grand and Wabash avenues. In February of 1871 the church closed for remodeling, reopening as the Fourth Presbyterian Church to much fanfare on October 8, 1871. Later that same day the church burned to the ground in the Great Chicago Fire.

Thank goodness the congregation didn’t believe in signs…and thank goodness they were also a very wealthy bunch. A new church was completed in 1874 at Rush and Superior, and finally, after the turn of the century they built the church we see today on Michigan Avenue.


Interior of 4th Presbyterian



The beautiful ceiling of 4th Presbyterian

One of the most eye-catching features of the interior is the ceiling. Check out the photo above. It kind of looks like the hull of a ship, right? The ornately carved wooden ceiling that you see in the photo certainly resembles an inverted ship and is believed to reflect the Viking influence on Gothic style.

Even if it was the most beautiful day out in Chicago, it would have been a treat to explore the inside of Fourth Presbyterian Church on the Magnificent Mile tour. Thank you Anna for a great tour! I am definitely planning on taking it again…when Mother Nature isn’t on a rampage, of course.

Want to take the Magnificent Mile tour? Tour dates are coming up! Visit http://bit.ly/cpqpze for upcoming departure dates for the Magnificent Mile tour, and visit http://bit.ly/ifVwjq to search out complete tour schedule.

There's no shame being a tourist in your own city.

See you around town!
Jennifer

Founded in 1914, the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association is the organization of 600 premier retailers, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses and institutions in the region of The Magnificent Mile. This not-for-profit group owns the term “The Magnificent Mile” and has given us special permission to use it for this tour.