It serves Navy Pier, which is accessible via bus on Illinois Street one block south.

Due to its central location, it serves a number of landmarks in Chicago, including Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile to the east.

Grand opened on October 17, 1943, as part of the State Street subway,[2] which forms the central portion of what is now the Red Line between North/Clybourn and Roosevelt stations.

The project doubled the station's capacity through a 2,000 sq ft (190 m2) mezzanine expansion as well as widening stairways and adding elevators.

[5] Unlike most State Street subway stations, Grand uses a side platform configuration with two tracks.