Jul 30, 2005 6:41 pm US/Central
Woman Explains Chicago's Ever-Changing Skyline
Joan Lindsay Calls Chicago Architecture 'Street Theatre'
by Alita Guillen
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Millions flock to Chicago each year to see one world famous attraction: Our skyline's view along the city's legendary Chicago River.
CBS 2 Alita Guillen reports on how one Chicago woman has been sharing the beautiful scenery with tourists for more than a decade.
Spectacular sights and fascinating views: That's what Joan Lindsay points out to Chicagoans and tourists from a boat along the river.
Though Joann has been educating thousands for more than 15 years, everyday is a new one.
"The city changes all the time. It's like having your stage set," she said. "The politics that go into a building like the Trump Tower, I didn't believe it til I saw it."
But now she calls it "street theatre" – steel beams being drilled 100 feet into limestone.
"This is something you only see in Chicago," she tells passengers.
Though they may have heard of Mies Van Der Rohe or Daniel Burnham, most didn't know 333 Wacker Drive was once informally voted the most popular skyscraper in Chicago.
They may not have known that after building the World Trade Towers, Minora Yamasaki was tired of square buildings and made the Montgomery Ward tower with pillars on the ends – and no one would fight over a corner office at that building.
"A lot of things have conspired to make Chicago a drawing point," Joan tells passengers. "We are economically viable."
And with talk of the new Fordham Spire being added to the skyline – not to mention the Trump Tower in the works – Chicago architecture is continuing to grow.
Lindsay is the author of "Chicago From The River." The photographs and illustrations take readers on a page-flipping tour of the Windy City's architecture. The book's second edition hit shelves this year.
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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