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Originally Posted by Obadno
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I used to think this because it's a romantic idea - the bridge itself is the center, linking north and south, like Rialto in Venice, sitting right on the site of DuSable's cabin and Fort Dearborn and thus the historic origin point of the city. The design of the area is also the perfect embodiment of the Burnham plan and the Beaux Arts style, it's a vision for what the city could become through careful design. Since the bridge itself is not suitable for large gatherings, Pioneer Court provided a gathering space for events and such.
But I've changed my mind since the Apple Store was built and the Tribune left. The space no longer has any kind of public or civic function, it's just a commercial space built on the spectacular bones of history.
State and Madison is likewise just a typical downtown intersection, one out of many, and holds no civic importance other than being the origin point for addresses. If you visited State/Madison without knowing the factoid in advance, you'd have no idea that intersection was especially significant.
So I guess I'd say Daley Plaza, or Millennium Park, and the axis between them on Washington with Block 37, Marshall Fields, and the Cultural Center.