Secrets of Chicago's Bronze Cow

Chicago Movie Tours
Sep 16, 2022
2 min read

Discover two landmarks etched into a bronze cow outside the Chicago Cultural Center

A bronze cow sits outside the Chicago Cultural Center. — Photograph it, ride it, or hug it: either way, be sure to learn the story of Chicago's bronze cow.

In front of Chicago’s Cultural Center sits a 2,500-pound bronze cow. It’s there to commemorate a public art project called Chicago Cows on Parade.

In 1999, 320 fiberglass cows were placed around Chicago. In the video below, you can see a few of these statues:

Top Cow
Tourist Cow
Space Cow, who sits appropriately in front of Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry

In the fall of 1999, 100 of these cows were auctioned off for charity. Talk show host and actress Oprah Winfrey bought 3 of them.

Chicago Cows on Parade was so popular that a bronze replica was placed in front of Chicago's Cultural Center in 2001 to remind Chicagoans of the event.

Look Into My Eyes

If you look closer at the cow — and into its eyes — you will see two other nods to Chicago’s history with architecture and art.

Etched into one eye is a rendering of Chicago’s Picasso statue, which has appeared in movies like The Fugitive, The Lake House, and The Blues Brothers.

Etched into the cow’s other eye is a depiction of Chicago's 150-year-old Water Tower, one of the few iconic structures left standing after the Great Chicago Fire.

Keep your eyes open when you are taking a Chicago walking tour (or a virtual tour!). You might be surprised what’s hiding in plain sight!