For one weekend a year, some of the coolest buildings in Chicago are open to the public. Open House Chicago is the one opportunity that many people get to explore architecture around the city. It can be hard to decide what to go see. For 2018, I stayed near downtown so I could see some of the more iconic locations.

The Central Standard Building, located in the heart of Chicago’s financial district, houses Wintrust’s Grand Banking Hall. This massive room was easily one of the most impressive locations of the day. There was a massive line to enter the room, and unfortunately, we didn’t get to roam around the hall.

Saint Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in the Loop is an odd sight because it is an Art Deco building surrounded by skyscrapers. The church also has a massive sculpture of Christ. This was my first time inside the church and it was a sea of marble.

The Federal Reserve Bank was open to the public. The Money Museum was open to the public, but I liked seeing the Great Hall the most.

The Palmer House Hilton has a very storied past. The Palmer House Hotel is currently in it’s third iteration. The hotel has long hallways and huge room for any fancy event you could think of. I felt a little strange walking through the hotel since I didn’t have a room or anything.

My stop at the Marquette Building was unexpected. The terra cotta and brass reliefs on the outside tell you that something is special about this building. The mosaics and reliefs inside were even more detailed than I imagined. The two-story lobby even has marble stairs.

I didn’t get a chance to tour the Chicago Board of Trade, but I did get a picture from outside.