Chicago‘s famous Cloud Gate statue, commonly known as the “Bean,” reopened on Sunday after a nearly yearlong closure.
The iconic sculpture in Millennium Park reopened ahead of the park’s 20th anniversary next month after the area underwent various improvements beginning in August 2023. The closure of the Bean frustrated tourists who have visited the Windy City in the past year.
The city said the improvements to the park and the area around the Bean included a rebuild of the plaza podium, a waterproofing system, accessibility improvements, and a paver replacement, among other renovations.
“This necessary maintenance has ensured the 20-year-old Park’s appearance, visitor experience, and position as the #1 attraction in the Midwest,” the city said in a bulletin announcing the reopening.
Cloud Gate was unveiled in 2004 but was completed in 2006, and it was designed by Anish Kapoor. The structure is made of 168 stainless steel panels, cut using computer technology, and inspired by liquid mercury, according to the Millennium Park Foundation.
The Bean is back! pic.twitter.com/Y1UGAxOtXa
— City of Chicago (@chicago) June 23, 2024
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The sculpture is 33 feet high, 42 feet wide, and 66 feet long, and it weighs 110 tons. Since being unveiled, the structure has become one of the city’s top landmarks and tourist destinations.
Millennium Park, where the Bean is located, opened to the public on July 16, 2004, and is slated to hold its 20th-anniversary celebration with concerts and other events from July 18–21.
