Sophie Crash

Review of Chicago Board of Trade

This is an incredible building to visit if you are...

This is an incredible building to visit if you are interested in architecture, American history, or the Art Deco movement. The interior of the lobby is covered in subtle and symbolic references to trade and industry (wheat, grains, owls, and machinery), and the exterior towers to the brim with a 30-foot statue of a faceless woman made of steel. The Chicago board of trade has several basements, one of which holds a giant walk-in safe where Al Capone once rented a safety deposit box. Unfortunately the safe is no longer available to the public to walk into, but you can walk right up to it to view the 20-ton door. Even the flooring in this building is full of industry, with depictions of early 20th century airplanes, zephyrs, and marine vessels. The elevators, mailboxes, sconces and pretty much every detail has beautiful art-deco style embellishments. Definitely worth a visit, and admission is free!