2018 Favorites
Read MoreNavy Pier, Chicago, Illinois (March 2018)
Why is it called Navy Pier? I always wondered.
This pier was built in 1916 and was actually originally named Municipal Pier. So where did the navy bit come in? The name was changed in 1927 to honor naval veterans who served in World War I.
While that is a wholly unsatisfying answer, there is an additional connection to the navy. During World War II, the navy actually began using this pier. It was a training center where about 10,000 people lived and worked. There was everything from a 2,500-seat theatre, to various shops like barbers and tailors, to a hospital.
After that, the pier wasn't used very much and went into a decline. It ultimately transformed into the attraction it is now during the 1980s and 1990s. It is actually Chicago's number one tourist attraction.
From Urban