How iconic is the Sears Tower in Chicago?

41 comments

1. I don’t know how iconic it is for Chicago residents but as someone not living in Chicago, I don’t think of it as much of an icon at all.

2. It’s pretty well known in the US, though younger people may only know it as Willis Tower.

3. Thanks for deadnaming a building that assumed a new identity in 2009.

   Besides the joke, everyone still calls it that. It’s a pretty huge landmark in the skyline, and a fairly popular tourist spot.

4. I’m from metro Detroit and have no clue what the Sears Tower looks like. Didn’t even know it was in Chicago and I’ve been there three times.

5. 40 years ago, it was incredibly iconic….now, most people wouldn’t recognize it.

6. You mean Willis Tower? /s

   But yeah I mean it’s look is rather iconic, it just was surpassed as the tallest building in the world so it became less of a tourist destination. Plus being known for being named after a company that completely cratered didn’t help.

   The building is iconic to the Midwest and especially to Chicago, but it isn’t nationally or globally anymore.

7. To the locals it’s probably the most iconic building in the world. And we’ll never call it the Bruce Willis building or whatever it’s called now.

8. The only way I would be able to pick it out in a group of pictures of famous sky scrapers in the US, would be by the process of elimination.

9. I’m 35. When I was younger, it was incredibly iconic. It was one of the sites I made sure to see when I took a trip to Chicago earlier this year.

   Not sure how iconic it is these days, but there were a good amount of people there on a Memorial Weekend morning when I was there.

10. gonna be honest. I know that it’s a well known building and that it’s in chicago, but I absolutely could not point it out in a lineup

11. It was the tallest building in the world for 25 years or so, but then got passed up in 1998 by the Patronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Since then (and the name change, and the construction of taller towers in NYC) it has faded in importance somewhat. I think it’s still one of the largest skyscrapers by square footage, but that doesn’t garner much recognition outside of architecture circles. It’s still very widely known in Chicago, but sometimes get confused for the John Hancock center (also recently renamed)

12. Pretty iconic. Was the tallest building in the world for 20+ years. Behind the Empire State building I would consider it the 2nd most iconic skyscraper in the United States.

13. My spouse proposed at the top of the tower, so it will always be a special place for me.

14. So iconic the name changed in 2009 and I’ve yet to hear it called anything but the Sears Tower.

15. Very iconic. And I appreciate that you referred to it as the Sears Tower vs the Willis Tower.

16. I think it might be the most iconic building in Chicago. That, or perhaps the Bean.

17. Iconic enough to still be called the Sears Tower

18. Iconic enough that when I took my first trip to Chicago I made it a point to go to the top. Although that was because of Ferris Bueller.

19. I’m writing my reply from the tower as we speak. The number of tourists I see in the morning leave union station and just instantly look up in awe never gets old.

20. As far as American skyscrapers go, it’s probably only behind the Empire State Building and 1 World Trade (and even that might be debatable). It’s long-time status as the tallest building in the world added to its legend.

    For younger people, it’s probably not as iconic since it keeps being passed up by larger buildings and hasn’t been called the Sears Tower for quite some time.

21. For Americans, it’s among the most recognizable skyscrapers in the country. I have no idea how well known it is in Brazil or Germany or Indonesia…or how any of us would know this. They probably don’t care unless they’ve got a specific interest in architecture or tall buildings.

22. I live walking distance from it. It’s pretty cool, however for anyone who’s coming to visit, skip it and go to the observation deck at the Hancock instead. Better views (imo) and they have a nice bar

23. Iconic enough that everybody still calls it the Sears Tower.

24. Quite iconic.

25. The only buildings more iconic are probably in NYC & DC. It’s certainly more well known than any building in LA, Houston, Philly, Dallas, etc

26. I loved there for five years. Willis what? Ain’t no Willis..

27. My 4-year-old shit her pants in the Sears Tower last year. Didn’t seem special to her.

28. Tbh I think I recognize the name more than I could identify it by a picture.

29. Iconic? It’s honestly a bland blocky building to look at, IMO.

30. We know about it, but is it _iconic_? Maybe if you’re from Chicago and you need something to be proud about when people reject your soupy pizza and reject your anti-ketchup attitudes. (Actually, Chicago is one of my favorite cities, despite my jabs.)

31. Not very iconic. I knew that there was a building called Sears Tower, I couldn’t call up an image in my mind, and I didn’t know it had been renamed until I saw this thread. Apparently, like too much of America, it got bought up by Blackrock.

    There are three iconic towers in America, the Empire State building, the Chrysler building, and the TransAmerica building in San Francisco. A lot of people have seen those in movies, and all three are beautiful. There are two cities in America with iconic skylines. New York and San Francisco.

    Before someone gets pissy about that statement, I define iconic as “Most people have seen it in pictures, movies, or television, and would instantly recognize it”

    Chicago isn’t seen in Hollywood as much as New York and San Francisco are.

32. My office is in that building. We refer to the location as Willis, but I always call it the Sears Tower when referring to the building itself.

33. it’s pretty well-known here as it used to be the tallest building in the country

    some people might not be able to pick it out of a lineup, but if you say “sears tower” to most americans they’ll know “oh yeah, it’s that really tall building in chicago”

34. We know it quite well, but I would say it’s behind at least the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center in most peoples minds.

35. I guess enough that nobody even knows its new name.

36. Speaking as someone who grew up near New York, it’s probably the most famous skyscraper in America outside of New York.

37. So iconic that the name changed to the Willis Tower on 2009 and NO ONE calls it that.

38. Very iconic. Even if you don’t know the name, the Sears Tower immediately tells you where you are.

    And thank you for calling it by its proper name.

39. Hard to miss

40. It hasn’t been called that in a couple of decades.

    Plus, America’s celebration of tall buildings in their own right is a thing of the past. It’s no longer a feat drawing tons of news coverage.

    Certainly nobody talks about it by either it’s old or new name: Willis Tower.

41. I am aware it exists, I could not tell you what it looks like.