![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_Oq-NO2O4fS3XcBwlxc2e4bQvs2sx5_GT6hSzHSehB5L-1kTpYn3rXUrA8am_FB31MpYT4TITSKzh8yRo0ca3ewnUn5V8DWIqwbZ3ILUVfyhYzVcAOoj8ToZShX80i7yrxJ_LYM-TlTY/s400/LI-archi-Chicago-004b.jpg)
The Y-symbol can be found all over the Chicago city... bridges, fences, public buildings.. It is officially know as the "Municipal Device" and is a symbol of civic pride..
So what's the Y-symbol?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLm-yRH_ySf3CHCQMX5xB5_TxBOuyyeqKoE010-m7C5aRzCWjgNFwCQMIa1FyxLENk_RUNDiOBwMwYPZr0-cPzf5RYkKd8RTsAmDaRXohl6yHp6Bx3vLCeoPJH6Z9KOdzriNiGfp7k82z9/s400/LI-sculp-Ymotif-002b.jpg)
So what is Y-symbol?
Y-Symbol represents the three branches of Chicago River .. which forms an alphabet Y topography at the "Wolf Point", where the main branch of the river, divides into the North and South branches .. The Y-symbol is the symbol of the City of Chicago..
Inverted Y-Symbol..
At some places, inverted Y-symbol can be seen, with vertical stripe on top .. It represents the reversal of the flow of Chicago River.
For more on "Wolf Point", click here..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMUuSWg7yQcGKijxfE4WACvVRGkmExELrScWrXzR0OT0fE_xEebrKIkHMpU0GtPTI-2sE716wGeHqcuQ2l7TEc9Gi5qytHg2k1ELFYL4-dSywoNxfAPdAhpJC3mirXv0UN_Zc_2kMps-Q/s400/LI-archi-Ysymbol-004b%255B2%255D.jpg)
# Y-symbol at Franklin Street bridge..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1x_wmF5MDWRt2AhSOAZ0z8HPuwA7OItiK_ORyxC_U5ZDcXMw_poWnxexMWf2laBkA4JWVZk6qhR8fGHUuZqkCH8dFFTJ5vs_FetG-BCoyUTG6w1EhkiYij6ilOmfiRt9NAXO7W4WtRZw3/s400/LI-archi-CCC-367b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at Chicago Cultural Center.. click here..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTMygwn5kN469K_8OE3m0oHXHNh56s1chzuAfL4V0JF2CwIsNlfqcVC0oAqBklOnmm6XicLkerQOCyR7Y7Bth8xu3hkEcx_fbkn953ir9pstPe0AEWgwqz1zQHT_VC82sNjM5PVhX4Gli/s400/LI-archi-CB-007b.jpg)
# Y-symbol [inverted] at City Hall-County Building.. click here..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTT2F8BIkRbvOg4wHaImIgfD2H00e_Tvhcy2prZzrovZmBxepcV6q-LvmWIGwCroSZzBk7wKvWfzP7zrD9xkFF-tqjIraDf1rOHdmn3G9bKbY1BfXc8JxjRtwwvWf6FoLWPv9NhTcUM28/s400/LI-archi-Chicago-007b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at Chicago Theater marquee .. click here..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZ9ju-aw8BbhlLsSLjkhM8QOx5EkEy4BycobEW_3tPi0Yuxn7z6UkzLwj3cEfudSbzFmPlYnEECJxnzho8po8IWA2u2b8121mmg92iS8vCXrsTuzYEV9wDu-xfZ3MjF-tak2XLzi1Gshd/s400/LI-scylp-Y-symbol-002b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at the Civil Engineering Monument of the Millennium.. click here..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQL10h6daQ2Kx4M2oZ683q5BonvFHm0kPr37xq61Gg6myIwyhmRzwLp8kGlLvCG_EmtW98I8fPGOg_9wNZm3bnzEb7SSymuL9UoFlLG9cfK0VdE99M_SueEdn4r_u_H2Lc6CX8YAWqR_pa/s400/LI-sculp-GP-014b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at Grant Park.. click here..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihb_uR0Bq__JZczA0FGDri-jcQsVDufXODQJWJZJc8udEYuWj1TjZR8lmg75uXkqCuvHEf2GA3gelgt6Cnqk5T7OwdPRsR5P0H0n9xXg2ClZOLIWr1L0rI-lodUzMBy7aEQNtvzDUzXatg/s400/LI-sculp-symbols-001b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at Harold Washington Library Center..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3DGSRTxX7EF53lU5QaHBsoujAhe04wX-9k5fFsrPW_rYTuP75NFHvQSVuNq7A2zo55YDLrTkpOOpFmaayajh2L9pTvbI1dS5bPFRI0BS35LKUnSSFHf68mEI4Nxedzdea8PevD9jEnmq/s400/LI-archi-FD-004b.jpg)
# Y-symbol [inverted] at [Former] Engine Company 104.. click here..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSqRxFjGVJCkYGIplSr4K9ToubBMdhbpAaGgRE7752ERvfPdxkiN-AODyWGNUW4sIZJNBNpAAhk9sr-2wnYYjurhfIqFtI6zyzuq2kRL7q8D48sBe6qSIM8Q6hfI24xDz8u82Xo3OGBwe/s400/LI-sculp-LSS-001b.jpg)
# Y-symbol on LaSalle Street bridge.. click here..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsPn-YNwgA0Wkckdd22Hwuf0AtrhsC8Xg3dAFGxJuWqlo9DjHfASvk3LbdA4BlSa-t7pVCUVAQ5yiyYMJrPi_CNGUWgps6mb5XoBwaAbTVkzrXR7KD0RglbGJ6e7ow4gelx2KANySsrrj/s400/LI-sculp-MP-004b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at Millennium Park [light-fixtures]..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63mszUYz5MXD2WAoDTlmw_LFwu6LCkWnpNchupaB2iPqF_nTXj1JHP5VLyChWkkfop8jDSRfwbHXP-BF67z-85Hf2mGRjsfcEiVBj781-U9EvBOMnX7JVa-h0HRQ4S6cmWAZ5_NojRjYE/s400/LI-archi-MP-040b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at Millennium Park [Wrigley Square]..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWebKozlhEAAHoKpbFsADUB03Mlb2LrbsHRH3ipzbm55z0_ldkcqUEapgKfhM4o0Ts2pRBB9px1yaSnsuQ3LD5j9588ilqVdaEXRSvenkzXL8ELrMRqSzSEns7hqhE2zYVofHcNkd2TRq/s400/LI-archi-Rookery-054b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at the Rookery..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2f7w01MQJz2o6ReNR8L_pmqbHznb6EF130tQWSjJDCEKfvria9fkfp-ictyfI5wEmKHlFRz7v2eVFbNTNAZOiWFyB-ht6C994Dp3bFPhqrsUfA1acb6fT1y_iO0nmUgrpo6lVv4gsAViY/s400/LI-sculp-CRW-501b.jpg)
# Y-symbol at Riverwalk Gateway..
Y-symbol at Navy Pier..
NOTE..
The initial post was written last year on Feb 10, 2010. But I have made many new additions since then. So reposted..
RELATED LINKS..
# Y-symbol at Chicago Cultural Center..
# Y-symbol [inverted] at City Hall-County Building..
# Y-symbol at Chicago Theater marquee
# Y-symbol at the Civil Engineering Monument of the Millennium..
# Y-symbol at Grant Park..
# Y-symbol [inverted] at [Former] Engine Company 104..
# Y-symbol at Harold Washington Library Center..
# Y-symbol on LaSalle Street bridge..
# Y-symbol at Franklin Street bridge..
# Y-symbol at Millennium Park [light-fixtures]..
# Y-symbol at Millennium Park [Wrigley Square]..
# Y-symbol at the Rookery..
# Y-symbol at Riverwalk Gateway..
10 comments:
Interesting!
The first two photos are very well put together.
I had no idea! Thank you!
Ann - Thanks for your regular visits.
The Y symbol is officially know as the "Municipal Device." See the library's info at:
http://www.chipublib.org/cplbooksmovies/cplarchive/symbols/munidevice.php
Forgotten Chicago did an extensive piece at:
http://forgottenchicago.com/features/chicago-signs/the-municipal-device/
Here's a flickr entry:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/chicagoy/
Alan
Thanks adgorn,
I really appreciate your taking out time to write all the information. I enjoyed going through them.
Great post! I never wondered this could have meaning in our first Chicago dating experience.
Good post! Chicago continues to surprise. I've lived in this area a good many years, and never knew that.
@ Dees -
Thanks for writing!
Chicago is indeed fascinating.
Never paid much attention to this, but now that I know it, I see it everywhere :p
@ Frank - Me too.
Exactly the same experience..
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