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10 Of The Most Instagrammable CTA Stations All Around Chicago

September 5, 2017 8:25am | Updated September 5, 2017 8:25am
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CHICAGO — The opening of the futuristic new CTA station at Washington and Wabash was met with fanfare and a whole lot of Instagramming.

It joins a huge stable of "L" stops that make for great photos.

We narrowed down a list of 10 CTA stations worthy of a share, either for their architecture, their art or their history. (Though we know, that list could be a lot longer than 10.)

Check out our list below and be sure to share with us what you think is the most photogenic "L" stop.

Loop: Washington/Wabash

Opened: 2017

Opened just last week, the highlight of the station is the undulating canopy, which CTA officials say is a "counterpoint to the city's grid." The way the station's steel and glass plays with light is an homage to diamonds and Jeweler's Row, just outside the station.

The station was designed by Chicago-based architecture firm exp.

Green Line: Conservatory-Central Park and Green/Pink Line: Ashland/Lake

Opened: 2001 (Conservatory); Ashland (1893)

Both of these station's are known for their Queen Anne architecture, and are topped off with a square cupola. the Ashland station is an original station. Conservatory was built in 2001, rebuilt from a former station at Homan to give better access to the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Blue Line: O'Hare

Opened: 1984

The station was designed by architect Helmut Jahn's firm, which was also responsible for designing the Thompson Center in the Loop. The wavy walls at the station are backlit by colored lights that change.

Blue Line: Cumberland

Opened: 1983

If you've never stepped off the train at this station, all you may have noticed is the platform in the middle of the Kennedy Expressway with the curved glass roof. But if you venture into the rounded stationhouse — designed by Wojciech M. Madeyski who also is behind the Aon Center's plaza — you'll see a nifty glass ceiling and the "Rock Bow" sculpture, which looks different every time depending on the sun.

Brown Line: Western

Opened: 1907 (Rebuilt in the 1920s and 1979)

The station building is pretty large, but otherwise not very interesting to look at, but does have a segment of the Berlin Wall on display. In 2008, the City of Chicago got the piece as a gift from the City of Berlin. City officials put it in this Lincoln Square station because of it German roots.

Loop: Quincy

Opened: 1897 (Restored in the 1980s)

In the 1980s, this Loop station was restored to match its 1890s look.

Pink Line: 18th Street

Opened: 1896 (Rebuilt in 1993)

The real star at this station is the murals and artwork, made by Francisco Mendoza and a group of 20 young people in conjunction with what is now the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Green/Pink Line: Morgan

Opened: 2012 (Original station was here from 1893 to 1948.)

The station was built for booming Fulton Market by TranSystems and Ross Barney Architects. The team intentionally went for a modern look intended to match the industrial and modern look of the neighborhood.

Brown Line: Francisco

Opened: 1907 (Rebuilt 2006-2007)

The most memorable part of this street-level "L" station is the walk up to the station, featuring the mosaic marble "Carpet" by Ellen Harvey. The carpet is an homage to the cultural diversity in the surrounding neighborhoods of Ravenswood Manor and Albany Park.

Green Line: Cermak-McCormick Place

Opened: 2015 (Original station was here from 1892 to 1977.)

The station with the curved canopy was designed by Ross Barney Architects, who also were behind the Morgan station.

 

 

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