Chicago has plenty of interesting things about it making it one of the top cities in the United States. It cannot be denied that Chicago is a place to be for many Americans as it is rich in history, culture, and has pretty much potential for the future.
Facts about Chicago
Currently, 2.7 million Americans call it home and if you’re planning to relocate to the Windy City, or if you’re just curious about it, here we have listed some facts about Chicago.
1. Birthplace of Modern Architecture
Chicago’s Home Insurance Building was the world’s first skyscraper even if it stood only 10 stories tall. Chicago is not among those afraid to make a statement and that can be seen from Willis Tower to the grand Graystones along Logan Boulevard and Lawndale Avenue. This city is full of daring designs and groundbreaking engineering feats that have gotten to influencing architecture worldwide.
2. Indulge in local fare at The Taste of Chicago
Chicago certainly loves providing a taste of its exceptional food and summer atmosphere. From all over the world, the visitors gather to enjoy the local fare at the city’s largest outdoor food festival: The Taste of Chicago.
For five consecutive days in July, the visitors get to not only partake in food but also get to enjoy music performances by local artists and celebrities, which include Carlos Santana and Kenny Rogers.
3. The only river in the world that flows backward
The Chicago River has an astonishing history as it flows through downtown Chicago. This river does not just run through several systems and canals, but it is also the only river in the world flowing backward.
For sanitation reasons, a reversal technique was introduced to detract the sewage away from Lake Michigan’s water supply. The reversal of the river was known for being the greatest public earth-moving project ever completed. It also got appreciated for being a great engineering achievement.
4. Where Epic Food is Born
Host to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition which is mostly known as World’s Fair, Chicago is where Cream of Wheat and Juicy Fruit gum first emerged.
5. World’s Tallest Building Designed by a Female Architect
It might not be the tallest building in Chicago (which is the Willis Tower, at 110 stories) but the 82-story Aqua comes off as the tallest structure in the world which was designed by a woman, architect Jeanne Gang.
Its outstretched balconies are a testimonial to the limestone outcrop features often found in the great lakes region, and they provide the sensible purpose of creating exceptional views for the residents.
6. An Artistic Paradise
If you’re someone who has listed experiencing both local and international artists in their bucket list, you’ll be glad to know Chicago has hundreds of art galleries. Don’t forget to check out 2nd Fridays at the Chicago Arts District in the Lower West Side, where you’ll come across more than 30 galleries inviting guests to bask in new exhibits and pieces.
Also don’t miss a chance to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, which houses the largest collection of impressionist paintings besides the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France. The collection here includes Vincent van Gogh’s Self-portrait, Georges-Pierre Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, and Grant Wood’s American Gothic.
7. Chicago Festival of Gold
If you’re a performer then you’ll be astonished, stepping into this delightful cultural city as a choral, band, or orchestral performer on the stage at the infamous Orchestra Hall at the Chicago Symphony Center. You can then have a luxury time relishing in the museums, theatres, and shopping and dining experiences offered by this city.
8. Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Marching Band Program
In the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, you get to stride your stuff down historic State Street and past the Christmas tree in Daley Center Plaza, at the core of this incredible city.
You will also be experiencing the thrill of marching down streets jammed with amazed spectators and feel the TV cameras on you while your friends and family might be cheering you on at home.
9. Unique Areas Within the Chicago Metro
There are seventy-seven communities and more than a hundred neighborhoods within Chicago’s 237 square miles of land, and we kid you not, all have their own identities. For example, there are deep-running Puerto Rican roots in Humboldt Park in West Chicago while North Chicago’s Uptown supports its prohibition history with nightlife and jazz!
You will be wanting Bridgeport and Hyde Park in South Chicago for fine arts and museums. And you might be heading to the Downtown Chicago Loop if you want the epic tourist spots like “The Bean” in Millennium Park or the Chicago Theatre District.
10. The Famous Chicago Deep-Dish
Almost everyone knows that Chicago is known for its deep-dish pizza. Chicagoans will commonly mention spots like Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Giordano’s, or Gino’s East. However, there are also spots you can head to get a local Chicago pizza that isn’t baked with a three-inch crust, filled with toppings, and stifled in sauce, including Piece Brewery & Pizzeria in Wicker Park for some New Haven-style pizza.
11. Skyscrapers Started in Chicago
Going way back to 1884, Chicagoland has always been home to tall buildings. Even if it isn’t anything in comparison to the present day’s architectural heights, Major William Le Baron Jenney began the trend with the ten-story Home Insurance Building.
Also, it was the first time a steel frame was applied to handle the complete weight of a building’s walls. This development aided spur future constructions, including Burnham and Root’s 1889 Rand McNally Building in Chicago which was the first all-steel framed skyscraper.
12. Birthplace of Major American Music
A hotspot for music from the early 1900s, Chicago was the place where the term “jazz” was invented in 1914. And the “King of Swing” Benny Goodman and legendary big-band drummer Gene Krupacity also called this city home.
Adding to the fun facts, Chicago opened La Mere Vipere in 1977, America’s first punk rock club and Chicago disc jockeys in 1984 performed various dance blends that in the end led to the birth of house music.
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