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The best photos of Northwestern University aren't always at the obvious landmarks. Sure, Deering Library and The Lakefill will fill your camera roll, but the real magic is in the side streets, the reflected light, and the unexpected angles that only reveal themselves to those exploring on foot. Seek out Shakespeare Garden for the kind of shot that no one else is posting.
A Big Ten campus on the shores of Lake Michigan in Evanston — Gothic stone meets lakefront green space just north of Chicago.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided photography tour route in Northwestern University. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Deering Library — a 1933 Collegiate Gothic library with a reading room modeled after King's College Chapel, Cambridge, The Lakefill — a reclaimed peninsula extending into Lake Michigan, built with rubble from demolished Chicago buildings, now a park and study spot, Ryan Center for the Musical Arts — a state-of-the-art concert hall and home to the Bienen School of Music, opened in 2015, plus hidden gems like Shakespeare Garden — a hidden formal garden near Garrett-Evangelical Seminary planted with flowers mentioned in Shakespeare's plays and The Technological Institute (Tech) — one of the longest academic buildings in the US at 675 feet, housing engineering labs and connecting virtually every science department.
Use this page as a starting point for a Northwestern University walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Northwestern University. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Northwestern University attracts visitors for architecture and nature, and Deering Library and The Lakefill and every landmark doubles as a photography opportunity when you know where to stand and when the light is best. A photography-focused walk pays attention to reflections, leading lines, and street scenes between the landmarks. Hidden photogenic spots like Shakespeare Garden reward those who wander off the main path.
Start at the Arch on the south end of campus and walk north along Sheridan Road toward the lake. The Lakefill is worth the detour for skyline views. Campus is flat and walkable end to end in about 30 minutes.
Late spring and early fall for pleasant lakeside weather. Football Saturdays in fall bring Big Ten energy. Winter is cold off the lake. Summer is gorgeous with the lake as a backdrop.
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