Explore things to do at Navy Pier
From recreation to relaxation & entertainment to education, Navy Pier offers activities & experiences for all.
Buy TicketsNavy Pier is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation established in 2011 to maintain Navy Pier and oversee the redevelopment of one of the most important civic landmarks in the United States and one of the top-visited leisure and cultural destinations in the world.
In anticipation of the Pier’s 100th anniversary, celebrated in 2016, Navy Pier created The Centennial Vision, a framework for reimagining Navy Pier. Grounded in the noble principles of its founding designers, The Centennial Vision adds a visionary and contemporary lens for the future. In anticipation of the Pier’s 100th anniversary, celebrated in 2016, Navy Pier created The Centennial Vision, a framework for reimagining Navy Pier. Grounded in the noble principles of its founding designers, The Centennial Vision adds a visionary and contemporary lens for the future.
Navy Pier’s mission is to be a world-class public place that celebrates and showcases the vitality of Chicago and provides for the enjoyment of Chicago-area residents and guests year-round. Navy Pier manages Navy Pier within a business framework that provides for its long-term financial stability.
While looking forward to what is relevant for Chicagoans today, Navy Pier leadership is ever conscious of famed architect Daniel Burnham’s vision to transform the lakefront into attractive and useful public space for active recreation and social interaction – a source of pride and common ground that fosters a sense of community within the city’s diverse population.
Navy Pier’s objectives for the future remain consistent with Burnham’s enduring values for the ‘People’s Pier’ to be a place where local residents and guests from around the world come to experience the natural beauty of the lakefront and Chicago’s magnificent skyline.
Help us continue our mission by making a contribution to the Pier today.
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Historic Navy Pier is among the most visited destinations in the world. Since its reopening in 1995, the Pier has welcomed over 186 million guests, including a record-breaking 9.3 million guests in 2016.
Navy Pier has enjoyed a remarkable evolution. Originally designed for shipping and recreational purposes, the facility has evolved into a premiere entertainment and exposition center. Experience an interactive timeline of Navy Pier’s history at 100yearsofpier.com.
Watch WTTW’s documentary, Navy Pier: A Century of Reinvention.
Through efficient use of our resources, nurturing of our spaces and engagement with our guests, Navy Pier strives to have a positive impact on our natural environment. For more information about green partnerships, plans and progress, click here.
As members of the Navy Pier Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, we:
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Navy Pier is the People’s Pier, Chicago’s lakefront treasure, welcoming all and offering dynamic and eclectic experiences through partnerships and programs that inspire discovery and wonder.
Since its reopening in 1995, more than 180 million guests have come to enjoy the Pier's 50 acres of unparalleled attractions and experiences. In 2022, Navy Pier continues to evolve into an accessible, year-round centerpiece for Chicago’s diverse arts and cultural treasures.