The district is known for the Chicago River, two bridges that cross it, and eleven high rise and skyscraper buildings erected in the 1920s.

[3] Among the contributing properties are the following Chicago Landmark structures: Other notable sites include Pioneer Court the Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable Homesite (401 North Michigan), which as the site of Chicago's first permanent residence[4] is a National Historic Landmark, and the Wrigley Building (410 North Michigan).

To the west is the Heald Square Monument, a statue of George Washington and the financiers of the American Revolution.

[3] The district also includes parts of Michigan, Wacker and East South Water, which are all among the many multilevel streets in Chicago.

[3][5] Most of its contributing high-rise buildings and skyscrapers are of either Gothic or Baroque architecture, in addition to Art Deco.