Chicago Loop, Central business district in Chicago, United States
Chicago Loop is the central business district at the heart of Chicago, where skyscrapers from different eras rise between wide streets. Pedestrian walkways run between tall buildings while the Chicago River forms the northern and western boundary.
After the fire of 1871, builders used fireproof materials to reconstruct the area and it grew into the world's first skyscraper district. Construction of the elevated railway in the 1890s shaped the boundaries and name of today's business center.
The elevated loop of the Chicago L train circles the entire district and gave this neighborhood its name. On weekdays, commuters pour through underground tunnels and across steel bridges while office workers fill the sidewalks at midday.
The street grid makes navigation straightforward, with State Street and Madison Street serving as main axes. Sidewalks stay busy during daytime hours, while evenings grow quieter, especially on weekends.
Below the streets run delivery tunnels that once moved packages throughout downtown and still remain intact today. Some old loading platforms and tracks lie abandoned beneath the skyscrapers.
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