One day as he was driving up Michigan Avenue, Gary Comer had an idea. He imagined an unprecedented project — to document the city of Chicago at the millennium. Born on the South Side in 1931, the life-long Chicagoan, avid photographer, and founder of Lands’ End decided to fund a unique year-long undertaking called Chicago in The Year 2000 (CITY 2000). From his early career as a copywriter for the Young & Rubicam advertising agency, Gary understood the power of storytelling. He knew his hometown was full not only of brilliant architecture but also of people and their stories.

Twenty-five years on, we can’t imagine a more beautiful portrait of our city. CITY 2000 captured all that we are, do and make --- together. In honor of the 25th anniversary, please enjoy this short documentary about the project.

A celebration of Chicago

A team of staff photographers worked alongside editors, writers, imaging technicians, and curators, who joined a myriad of freelancers — from journalists, documentary and architectural photographers to artists — bringing a wide range of experience, style, and expertise. At a moment after midnight, January 1, 2000, dozens of photographers set to work—covering life in the city over the millennium year.

Many lived and breathed CITY 2000 until the clock ran out on December 31, 2000. The project included the work of over 200 photographers and generated approximately half a million images, as well as half a thousand hours of audio and video.

Perhaps more change has come in the past 25 years than one might have guessed. Even in 2000, photographers knew they were capturing things of a significance not yet known. Ultimately, this project is a celebration of Chicago. True to Gary’s original intent, what we can learn from this visual history will continue to evolve along with our vibrant, diverse and beautiful city.

Visit the Comer Archive of Chicago in the Year 2000 at UIC.