Chicago Theatre

Everyone from Duke Ellington to Frank Sinatra to Prince has taken the stage here over the years (and left their signature on the famous backstage walls). The real showstopper, though, is the opulent French baroque architecture, including the lobby modeled on the Palace of Versailles. Opened in 1921, the theater originally screened silent movies with a full orchestra and white-gloved ushers leading patrons to their seats. Tickets cost just 50ç so rich and poor alike could revel in the splendor. Today it’s a concert venue. Tours are available most days (excluding Friday and Sunday) in summer, less often the rest of the year. At the very least, take a gander at the six-story sign out front; it’s an official landmark.