Willis Tower (Sears Tower)
Chicago Sights & Attractions
Formerly called the Sears Tower, the Willis Tower is 108 stories and was the tallest building in the world for 25 years. The building is 1,451 feet tall and tourists can go to the 103rd floor Skydeck. This popular tourist attraction gets well over a million visitors each year. On windy days, you can feel the sway of the building. Elevators take tourists to the top in about 60 seconds. The name was changed from the Sears Tower to Willis Tower in 2009 when the Willis Group got to re-name it during a lease agreement.
The Ledge
On the Skydeck is The Ledge, a glass box that protrudes out from the building giving you a look straight down 1,353 feet. These retractable glass balconies can be extended approximately 4 feet out. The balcony can handle any weight but imagine in May of 2014 when tourists were on the balcony and the laminated glass covering the floor of one of the glass boxes shattered!
Standing on The Ledge
Skydeck
View from street
Looking south