Officially titled Cloud Gate but universally known as "the Bean," Anish Kapoor's 110-ton elliptical sculpture sits in Millennium Park's AT&T Plaza and has become one of Chicago's most recognized landmarks. Its mirror-polished surface reflects the skyline and distorts anyone who walks under it, making the underbelly -- called the omphalos -- particularly disorienting and fun.
The sculpture was completed in 2006 after a lengthy public debate about its unconventional design. It is the centerpiece of a park that also contains the Pritzker Pavilion (where the Grant Park Orchestra plays free summer concerts), Lurie Garden, and Crown Fountain. Entry to the park is free.