These are the lions. You have to take a picture with them. Everyone does. It's basically a city ordinance at this point.
They've been here since 1894. The sculptor, Edward Kemeys, based them on two actual lions at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Kemeys gave the statues official names — the south lion is "stands in an attitude of defiance," and the north lion is "on the prowl." Nobody has ever called them that. Not once. They're just the lions.
Here's what's actually interesting — these lions have seen every protest, parade, and celebration Chicago has had for over 130 years. And when the city has something to celebrate, the lions get dressed up.
Bears win the Super Bowl in '86, they get football helmets. Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup, hockey helmets. When the Cubs won the World Series in 2016 — after 108 years — the lions wore Cubs hats.
— From the tour: The Postcard Tour
