Chicago is blessed with many modern sculptures that are tourist destinations in their own right. The most famous ones are in the heart of the Loop, although they would probably be famous in more remote locations as well. Along an easily walkable 5-block stretch of Dearborn Street, there are five significant sculptures that are either along this street or within one block from it.

We lead off with the Picasso sculpture, the fairest of them all at the northwest corner of Dearborn and Washington. This is probably the most beloved modern sculpture in Chicago, but this was not always the situation. It was unveiled in 1967 as the artpiece in the middle of the plaza of the Civic Center (now Daley Center) to decidedly mixed reviews amongst the generally conservative tastes of the locals. As with most great civic structures (take the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Michelangelo's David in Florence as prime examples), the tide of public opinion soon gravitated from negatively to overwhelmingly positive. The Picasso is a must see in the city, and it offers a lot of interesting vantage points to be seen. I like sneaking up on it from its left "shoulder" so you can see the silhouette of the head of this "woman". The 50-foot-tall sculpture is constructed from Cor-ten steel, the same material used in the Daley Center building. The modern plaza features a fountain and an eternal flame, but there is no question that the Picasso is the star of the show.

Across the street from the Picasso is the Miro sculpture, unfortunately sited in a niche of a plaza between two high-rises. Most people will be so mesmerized by the Picasso and not even notice the Miro, and that would be a shame. Only the sheer power of the design lets the Miro to be noticed at all. It is on the south side of Washington, just west of Dearborn.

Before heading south on Dearborn, take a slight detour to the northwest corner of Randolph and Clark to see the Dubuffet. This white mushroom-like sculpture is typical Dubuffet as it stands in front of the State of Illinois Center. There is just enough space for a person to walk through the sculpture.

Back on Dearborn, walk to the plaza of the Bank One Building to see the large mosaic by Marc Chagall. A metal canopy to partially protect it from the elements now tops the artwork. Walk around the colorful artwork, at the northwest corner of Dearborn and Monroe.

A little further south on Dearborn between Adams and Jackson is the unmistakable red Flamingo by Alexander Calder. Its curvy and bright red hue stands as a colorful counterpoint to Mies' darkly linear modern design of the Federal Plaza.