Civic Opera House, Chicago, IL

One of North America's most beautiful opera houses, the Civic Opera House is home to the world-renowned Lyric Opera of Chicago. The Civic Opera Building is a majestic limestone skyscraper with a 45-story office tower and two 22-story wings. Shaped like a gigantic throne facing the Chicago River between Washington and Madison streets, it was completed after just 22 months of planning and construction. The Civic Opera House seats 3,563 people, and opened on November 4, 1929 (just 6 days after the stock-market crash). Until Lyric Opera of Chicago was founded in 1954 (as Lyric Theatre), the Civic Opera House was home to the Chicago Civic Opera, Chicago Grand Opera Company, Chicago City Opera Company and Chicago Opera Company. Over the years the Civic Opera House has also hosted visiting opera and dance companies, as well as touring operettas, musical shows, and a great number of orchestral, dance, and vocal concerts. Even if you're not an opera fan or can't catch one of the other shows, the beauty and history of this place is well worth seeing.