Chicago may be best known for its skyscraper-filled skyline, but it’s distinctive signs that decorate the tops and sides of buildings and advertise businesses arguably rank a close second.
Some of the signs are obvious and world-famous—think of the relic hanging from Wrigley Field’s entrance or Chicago Theater’s flashy marquee—and others are long-time fixtures in Chicago’s neighborhoods beloved by locals.
It’s true that some of Second City’s historic favorites are gone (R.I.P. the old Zenith sign and the huge set of lips advertising Magikist looming over Chicago’s expressways) but many more have survived the city’s never-ending waves of redevelopment.
We’ve assembled 15 of the most iconic Chicago signs that you can still see today. This is not a definitive list: Let’s face it, one could make a entire list from classic theater marquees alone—but rather this list includes a variety of venues from all over the city.
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