Daley Plaza

A civic plaza in the Loop named for longtime mayor Richard J. Daley, this open space is dominated by an untitled fifty-foot steel sculpture by Pablo Picasso unveiled in 1967. Flanked by the county courthouse and government offices, the granite-paved square hosts farmers' markets, cultural festivals and the city's official Christmas tree. Its eternal flame honors war veterans, and demonstrations frequently fill the space. The Picasso, at first controversial, has become a defining emblem of the city and a favorite meeting point downtown.