12 Of The Most Enchanting Man Made Wonders In Illinois

There sure is plenty of natural beauty in Illinois, but there are loads of man made marvels as well. These marvels include those made thousands of years ago, those requiring advanced engineering techniques, and those created by some of the best architects in history. Read on to see these 12 Illinois marvels.

1. Willis Tower

Holding the title of tallest building in the world for roughly 25 years, the Willis Tower is 1,451 feet tall. It was constructed in 1973.

2. Chicago River

No, the river itself is thanks to nature. But the reverse flow? That was the product of ingenious engineering.

3. Cahokia Mounds

These mounds, located in Collinsville, were created thousands of years ago by people known as the "Mound Builders."

4. Union Station

Chicago-Union Station opened in 1925. It is designed in the Beaux-Arts architecture.

5. Farnsworth House

You need to drive to Plano to see this home. This modern architectural landmark was designed by Mies van der Rohe in 1951.

6. Illinois State Capitol

The Illinois state capitol is just beautiful. It was created using a variety of styles including Greek Revival architecture, Renaissance Revival architecture, and Second Empire architecture.

7. Nauvoo Illinois Temple

The Nauvoo Illinois Temple is the 113th dedicated temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

8. Bahá'í House of Worship

Amazingly, this is the only Bahá'í House of Worship in the United States. You can find it in Wilmette.

9. Holy Name Cathedral

People from all over the world visit this cathedral. It was designed by Patrick Keely in 1874.

10. James R. Thompson Center

This incredible building was opened in 1985. This center was designed by architect Helmut Jahn, with art in the front done by Jean Dubuffet.

11. Dana-Thomas House

The Dana-Thomas house was created by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1904. It is located in Springfield and it is an example of Frank Lloyd Wright's "Prairie Style."

12. The Picasso

This 50 foot, 160 ton masterpiece has been a part of Chicago since 1967.

What are your top Illinois man made marvels?