The Ledge's glass boxes are designed to retract back into the building for window cleaning and maintenance.
The Willis Tower was the world's tallest building for 25 years after its completion in 1973.
The structure can sway several inches in high winds as part of its structural engineering design.
At 1,353 feet, the Skydeck is the highest public observation deck in the United States.
The building was renamed from Sears Tower to Willis Tower in 2009 after a London-based insurance broker acquired naming rights.
Skydeck Chicago is located on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, at 1,353 feet above street level. The observation deck features The Ledge, a series of four glass-bottomed balconies that extend 4.3 feet out from the building's facade. Visitors can view four different states—Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan—on clear days. The experience includes an interactive museum on the lower level detailing the engineering and history of the building. The Willis Tower stands as one of the tallest buildings in the Western Hemisphere. The glass floor of The Ledge is constructed from three layers of tempered safety glass. Displays within the facility provide context on Chicago's architectural history. Guests move through a curated queue that explains the development of the skyline.
Inside the glass-bottomed Ledge balcony for a straight-down view of the street.
Visit during the first hour of operation to minimize wait times for the glass boxes.
Check the local weather forecast specifically for visibility conditions; heavy cloud cover can obscure ground-level views.
Download the Skydeck app to access interactive maps and information about landmarks visible from the deck.
Attempting to take photos of The Ledge from outside the glass boxes; only visitors inside the boxes get the intended perspective.
