Resolution
WHEREAS, Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline, is a Chicago based, family owned and operated tour and charter boat business that has showcased Chicago's architecture, skyline and waterways to millions of visitors from around the globe since 1935; and
WHEREAS, Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline fleet and tour offerings have grown considerably since great grandfather Arthur Agra began offering "go fast and get cool" speedboats with 25 cent tickets after the Great Depression when indoor air-conditioning was not commonplace; and
WHEREAS, Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline has operated during the tenure of 10 Chicago mayors and witnessed and participated in the historic transformation of Chicago's once dingy, commercial waterway into a vibrant multiuse world class tourist destination with the expansion of Chicago's Riverwalk; and
WHEREAS, today Mercury Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline is comprised of seven vessels operating in two sister companies, Mercury Sightseeing Boats offering family friendly tours including the Urban Adventure Cruise, Chicago by Night and the Canine Cruise and Chicago's First Lady Cruises offering the world-renowned Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady Cruises both operating from their Riverside Gardens dock on the Chicago Riverwalk east ofthe Michigan Avenue bridge; and
WHEREAS, Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline has been the exclusive partner with the Chicago Architecture Foundation for more than 20 years to showcase Chicago's world-famous architecture through 90-minute docent-led architecture river cruises; and
WHEREAS, Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline is led by the Agra family's third generation, Captain Robert (Jr.) and Holly Agra, working in close partnership with the fourth generation, Robert III, Timothy and Clare Agra; and
WHEREAS, the Agra family are Chicago tourism ambassadors through their generous hosting of visiting dignitaries, media and tourist delegations as well as numerou...
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