The largest city in the Midwest is a thriving mix of
world-class museums, classic American architecture, fine dining, theatre, and
accommodations. Yet despite its size, Chicago is a collection of friendly,
walkable neighborhoods that gives it the feel of a small town.
Located in northern Illinois, Chicago sits alongside
Lake Michigan, and it earns its nickname ‘the Windy City.” Though pleasant in
the warmer months, the waterfront gusts can be frigid in winter.
Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837. The
population boomed in 1848, when the Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed,
and the locomotive arrived. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed much
of the city, it was redesigned and rebuilt. The 29-mile lakefront park was
added, as well as its wide residential boulevards and numerical grid street
system. The first elevated trains were introduced in 1893 to provide
transportation to the World’s Columbian Exposition. Today, the trains, known as
“the Loop” or the ‘El,” encircle the central business district.
The city’s skyscrapers are some of its most popular
attractions. The Sears Tower was the world’s tallest building upon its
completion in 1974. The 103rd floor Skydeck provides breathtaking
views. On a clear day, viewers can see Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana. The
John Hancock Center is easily recognized by its distinctive X-shaped – cross
braces. Thought not quite as tall as the Sears Tower, it offers spectacular views
from its observatory on the 94th floor.
Marshal Field’s is one of the oldest and best-known
department stores in the world, as well as one of the largest. Much more than a
place to shop, it is an architectural experience, with its courtyards,
fountains, grand pillars, and Tiffany mosaic glass dome.
Navy Pier is popular for its many attractions,
including over fifty acres of parkland, gardens, boat cruisers, shops,
restaurants, and the fifteen-story ferris wheel. Riverwalk Gateway is a
magnificent 336-foot long wall that tells the history of the city and its
river. It is Chicago’s largest work of public art.
There is so much to see and do in Chicago, from its
thriving nightlife, notably its famous blues clubs, to its world-class museums.
It is home to some of the finest shopping in the country, and to all major
American sports. Beyond its beautiful lakefront setting are thriving
neighborhoods, full of character, each containing their own unique places to
discover. Whether you call it home or you’re just passing through, Chicago is
an American gem.
