When Chicago built the Tallest Building in the World | The story of Sears Tower
The Willis Tower (originally the Sears Tower) is a 108-story, 1,451-foot (442.3 m) skyscraper in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois, United States. Designed by architect Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), it opened in 1973 as the world's tallest building, a title that it held for nearly 25 years. It is currently the third-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the 23rd-tallest in the world. Each year, more than 1.7 million people visit the Skydeck observation deck, the highest in the United States, making it one of Chicago's most popular tourist destinations. The building occupies a site bounded by Franklin Street, Jackson Boulevard, Wacker Drive, and Adams Street. Graham and Khan designed the building as nine square "tubes", clustered in a 3×3 matrix; seven of the tubes set back at upper floors. The tower has 108 stories as counted by standard methods, though the building's owners count the main roof as 109 and the mechanical penthouse roof as 110.The facade is made of anodized aluminum and black glass. The base of the building contains a retail complex known as the Catalog. The lower half of the tower was originally occupied by retail company Sears, which had its headquarters there until 1994, while the upper stories were rented out. The structure was known as the Sears Tower from its construction until the naming rights were included in a 2009 lease with the Willis Group. Local area residents still refer to the building by its old name. As of April 2018, the building's largest tenant is United Airlines, which occupies around 20 floors. Other major tenants include the building's namesake Willis Towers Watson and law firms Schiff Hardin and Seyfarth Shaw. Morgan Stanley became the building's fourth-largest tenant in 2017.
5 Jan 202322min
Why Florida Abandoned the Sea Domes
This year, the last four domes of the famed Cape Romano Dome House fell to Hurricane Ian. Though it now sits beneath the waves in its final resting place, it was a self-sufficient marvel in its heyday. Today on It's History, we will discover its story.
31 Dec 202214min
Chicago's Lost Grain Elevators | How Greed became Urban Decay
Chicago's grain elevators were created for agricultural trade but destroyed by greed; although the city once had over 300 towering structures, nothing remains but the wealth that shaped the city. Join us in discovering this tale of Urban Decay.
29 Dec 202217min
Why Tourists Became Repulsed by NYC | History of Tourism in New York City
Today's video covers the fascinating history of tale Tourism in New York City, tourist traps, and why some visitors may find their trip to the big apple "repulsive". We've all been there; we booked the trip of a lifetime to a Legendary destination, New York City. The type of place we recognize from TV. Yet When you arrive, you're overcome with the nauseating sensation of disappointment; you try to repress the facts; you expected the smell of garbage, terrible traffic, and occasional degenerations, yet something is off. Somehow no one warned you about the obvious, that other tourists, like yourself, pervert everything you thought you'd love about the city. This hasn't always been the case. Mass tourism on such a corporate scale is a relatively new phenomenon. and Spoiler alert, Aside from the money it brings in, it doesn't add much value. But when did this all begin? Today we discover the history of tourism in New York City and how it has eroded the city's culture.
24 Dec 202220min
When New York Destroyed a Skyscraper in its Prime | The Rise and Fall of Gillender Tower
In the late 19th century, the Gillender building was finished. Even though it was regarded as one of the marvels of New York City and was once one of the tallest buildings in the world, now, its former footprint in the city has been consumed by another iconic skyscraper, and all evidence of the Gillender Building is either erased or buried underneath it. So what caused such a great building to be demolished so quickly? Today we discover the rise and fall of the Gillender Building.
22 Dec 202213min
Detroit's Tragic Downfall | The Rise and Fall of Detroit Michigan
Once one of America's largest cities, Detroit was famously both a behemoth in automobile production and the birthplace of Motown. In recent years, however, it has been amid a financial and social decline—but it was not always this way. Today we will discover the rise and fall of Detroit.
17 Dec 202216min
Hoover Dam: A Symbol of American Ingenuity and Progress
The Hoover Dam is a marvel of engineering and a popular tourist destination located on the border between Arizona and Nevada in the United States. Built during the Great Depression in the 1930s, the dam serves as a source of hydroelectric power, flood control, and irrigation for millions of people in the Southwest region. This video explores the history, construction, and significance of the Hoover Dam, providing a comprehensive overview of its design and engineering. It showcases the impressive feat of engineering that the dam represents, with breathtaking aerial views and up-close footage of the dam's massive concrete structure. Viewers will learn about the challenges faced by the engineers who built the dam, including the harsh desert climate, the need for a reliable source of electricity for the growing cities of the West, and the dangers faced by the workers who built it. The video also covers the cultural and historical significance of the Hoover Dam, including its role as a symbol of American ingenuity and a testament to the spirit of cooperation that made its construction possible. Whether you are a history buff, an engineering enthusiast, or simply curious about this impressive structure, this video is a must-see. So, sit back, relax, and join us on a journey to explore the wonders of the Hoover Dam.
15 Dec 202216min
Chicago's Lost 'L' Train to Milwaukee Wisconsin
The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad (reporting mark CNSM), also known as the North Shore Line, was an interurban railroad that operated passenger and freight service over an 88.9-mile (143.1 km) route between the Chicago Loop and downtown Milwaukee, as well as an 8.6-mile (13.8 km) branch line between the villages of Lake Bluff and Mundelein, Illinois. The North Shore Line also provided streetcar, city bus, and motor coach services along its interurban route. Extensively improved under the one-time owner of Samuel Insull, the North Shore Line was notable for its high operating speeds and substantial physical plant, as well as innovative services such as its pioneering "ferry truck" operations and its streamlined Electroliner trainsets. Author and railroad historian William D. Middleton described the North Shore Line as a "super interurban"56 and opined that its cessation of rail service marked the end of the "interurban era" in the United States. Since 1964, the Yellow Line of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has operated over a short segment of the former main line from Chicago to Skokie, Illinois. Operating examples of North Shore Line rolling stock have been preserved in railroad museums, and the former Dempster Street Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
10 Dec 202222min
