The apparent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington caused widespread closings of office buildings, government facilities, financial exchanges, shopping malls, schools, theaters and tourist attractions in Chicago. Performances, concerts and sporting events also were canceled.
Among those shuttered and evacuated were such Chicago icons as the Sears Tower, the Merchandise Mart and the Art Institute.
Also closed downtown were John Hancock Center, James R. Thompson Center, Dirksen Federal Building, Daley Center, Wrigley Building and Aon Tower.
The entire downtown museum campus–the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium–was closed as was Soldier Field, said Angelynne Amores, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Park District.
Lincoln Park Zoo also closed.
The economic impact was felt immediately as well. Trading at two of Chicago’s financial stalwarts, the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, was halted.
The Chicago area’s largest mall, Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, also closed.
All 15 Major League Baseball games scheduled for Tuesday, including the White Sox in New York against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium and the Cubs hosting the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, were canceled, as were all minor-league baseball games including the Kane County Cougars’ Midwest League Championship Game 2 in South Bend, Ind.
The U.S. Women’s Cup soccer match against Japan in Columbus, Ohio, was canceled Tuesday, as was the harness racing at Balmoral Park (7:40 p.m. post).
Four Major League Soccer games and the thoroughbred racing at Arlington Park scheduled for Wednesday were canceled.
The World Golf Championships, Tampa Bay Classic and Oregon Classic, all PGA Tour events with first-round play scheduled for Thursday, were postponed.
Many universities and other schools also closed their doors, including Northwestern University’s Chicago campus, DePaul University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University’s Chicago Water Tower campus, John Marshall Law School and Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Two Muslim schools in suburban Bridgeview, the Universal School and Aqsa School for Girls, closed early when numerous parents came to pick up their children.
Chicago police evacuated the Hannah Sacks High School, a Jewish school for girls in the Rogers Park neighborhood, after a suspicious object was found nearby in the street.
In addition to the Daley Center, all outlying county court buildings–including the Criminal Courts Building at 26th Street and California Avenue–were closed, according to Bill Cunningham, a spokesman for Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan.
All federal buildings were closed in the Chicago area as well.
Numerous organizations canceled events scheduled for Tuesday.
Second City canceled its Tuesday night performance and postponed the premiere of its new show until next week.
Jewish Community Centers of Chicago canceled its annual meeting in Skokie, and the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies also closed.
The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green St., postponed Tuesday’s premiere of Love Letters, a romantic comedy, until Thursday, said Gina Trimarco, its marketing director.
The Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., also closed Tuesday, and an evening program, International Dinner and a Movie, was rescheduled for Wednesday, said Pat Matsumoto, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.
The City Gallery at Historic Water Tower Place also was closed, said Kimberly Costello, another department spokeswoman.
A Laurie Anderson concert at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday was continuing as planned.
The League of Chicago Theaters offices closed.
The scheduled Tuesday opening of “Love Letters” at Chicago Center for the Performing Arts was postponed until Thursday.
The only downtown Broadway touring show, “The Full Monty,” was canceled for Tuesday.
Other closings: Goodman Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College, David and Alfred Smart Museum at University of Chicago, the Chicago Historical Society and Terra Museum of American Art.
Numerous restaurants closed, many near the buildings that were shuttered.
Emergency numbers
Information about possible closings can be obtained by calling the following numbers:
Chicago Public Schools: 773-553-1000
City Colleges of Chicago: 312-553-2500
Chicago city offices: In Chicago, 311; from outside the city, 312-744-5000
Field Museum: 312-922-9410
Postal Service: 800-275-8777
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, for events at the Cultural Center and Water Tower: 312-744-6630
Call main numbers for local colleges for more information.
To donate blood, call: LifeSource 708-346-9928; American Red Cross, 312-729-6100
Social Security office information: 800-772-1213
The Advocate Northside community mental health center has a crisis intervention hotline for people to get help with dealing with the attacks or talking to their children: 773-769-6200.
United Airlines has instructed families seeking information about any affected flights to call 800-932-8555.
In Lake County:
For school closings, call Lake County Regional Office of Education, 847-360-6313.
For government office closings, call Lake County Board office at 847-360-6336.
For emergency information, call Lake County sheriff’s office at 847-360-5803.
