One of the busiest cities in the United States and the largest in Illinois, Chicago is a renowned hub for transportation, industry, infrastructure and telecommunications in all of North America, as well as being the home to many politicians, including the current president of the United States. It is the only American city on the list of final four cities contending for to host the World Olympics in 2016. The Native American tribes gave way to the trappers and traders and in the middle 1830’s the last of the Potawatomi natives were removed by the white man and the ‘wild onion’ city was on the way to becoming theChicago that we know today.
The importance of Chicago as a transportation hub was discovered early on as the need for efficient transport between the eastern and western parts of the fast growing United States.
The city of Chicago has become a holder of many firsts such as the first skyscraper built in 1885 after the Great Chicago Fire that wiped out over a third of the city. The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 was one of the most influential in bringing advances in culture and progress to Chicago. One other era is among the first to come to mind thinking of Chicago, that of the gunmen who ran the city in the Prohibition era when only a few brave men remained uncorrupted by the money offered by criminals.
Today, there is so much to do and see in Chicago, that it is hard to pick a favorite place to see, from the museums and art collections on the Loop to the Harpo Studios where the television show ‘Oprah’ is produced. There are wonderful parks along the waterfront and the Museum of Science and Industry and the Garfield Park Conservatory which has the largest collection of tropical plants in the country are two of many that draw tourists to visit here every year.
Professional sports teams also draw many to the different fields and sporting arenas in Chicago, fulfilling the title of ‘Best Sports City in America” given by the Sporting News in two different years. Baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer are some of the sports played here, but the lacrosse team and marathons are very popular also.
Chicago is the home of many things and this includes jazz, blues and many different manufacturing companies. The Sears tower is one of the landmarks among the skyscrapers and many books, movies and poems are written about Chicago. The other two tallest skyscrapers in the nation are also in Chicago. For the traveler, there are a variety of ways to get here, ranging from air travel, railroad, bus and car. When visiting the Loop area, it is a good idea to not drive as the traffic is horrendous. Take a taxi, bus or the train, it will save a lot of headache.
One of the greatest shopping areas is called the Magnificent Mile, in the northern area. It has the most concentration of shops in a single geographic area. Come to Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan and see the wonders of it for yourself.
