Cloud Gate

In the center of the city, the Bean is one of the best public arts in Chicago that you shouldn't miss. One of the largest permanent outdoor art installations in the world, the sculpture's official name is Cloud Gate. After its 2004 unveiling, the enormous piece quickly rose to fame as one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks. The lakefront park in Chicago's downtown Loop, Millennium Park, is home to the Cloud Gate. It is located directly behind the Park Grill restaurant at 11 N. Michigan Ave., above the McCormick Tribune Plaza. You really can't miss it if you're strolling down Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe.

This work of public art is entirely constructed out of stainless steel. It was made by precisely cutting 168 large steel plates using computer technology, fitting them together, and then welding them shut for a seamless appearance. It is constructed from a network of two sizable metal rings inside. A truss framework, akin to what you might see on a bridge, connects the rings.

Due to the sculpture's massive weight being directed to its two base points, the iconic "bean" shape and the sizeable concave area beneath the structure are both made possible. Steel connectors that are flexible allow the Cloud Gate's exterior to expand and contract in response to changes in the weather.

• Founded: 2006
• Designer: Anish Kapoor
• Google rating: 4.8/5.0
  
• Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602