CME Floor Tour

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) 'the merc' is the largest futures exchange in the United States and second largest exchange in the world for the trading of futures and options on futures based in Chicago and located at 20 S. Wacker Drive. The CME was founded in 1898 and originally, the exchange was a non-profit organization.

The Merc demutualized in November 2000, went public in December 2002, and merged with the Chicago Board of Trade in July 2007 to become a designated contract market of the CME Group Inc., which operates both markets. On August 18, 2008, shareholders approved a merger with the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and COMEX.

The Merc, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX are now markets owned by the CME Group. The Visitors Center guides through history of CME as well as the development of futures industry and its affect on the economy.

After 167 years, the CME closed most of the Futures Pits at the CBOT on Monday July 6th 2015. S&P 500 futures pits will remain open.