Merchandise Mart
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The Merchandise Mart is a commercial building located in downtown Chicago, Illinois. When it was opened in 1930, it was the largest building in the world, with 4 million square feet (372,000 m2) of floor space. The Art Deco structure is located at the junction of the Chicago River's branches. The building is a leading retailing and wholesale location, hosting 20,000 visitors and tenants per day in the late 2000s.
Merchandise Mart
Merchandise Mart under construction, 1929
Merchandise Mart in late 1969
A night view of the building's surroundings along the Chicago River: Among the buildings and structures shown are (left to right) Left Bank at K Station (300 North Canal), 333 North Canal, Kinzie Street railroad bridge, 350 West Mart Center, Merchandise Mart, 300 North LaSalle, Franklin Street Bridge and part of 333 Wacker Drive.
Chicago River
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The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of 156 miles (251 km) that runs through the city of Chicago, including its center. Though not especially long, the river is notable because it is one of the reasons for Chicago's geographic importance: the related Chicago Portage is a link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
Chicago River at night in August 2015
Aerial view of the North Branch of the Chicago River, from the south, with Goose Island, near center
The Chicago 'L' Ravenswood train (Brown Line) crossing the north branch of the Chicago River
View west along the main stem of the Chicago River from the Outer Drive Bridge, 2009