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Chicago

Along the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago's towers of stone and steel explode from ground to sky in a dizzying spectacle. Chicago's rise, however, has not been a steady accumulation of buildings since fur trader Jean Baptiste Point du Sable built his lonely cabin here in 1779. The city, with its stockyards, still mills, canals, and railroads, was growing at a healthy clip in the late 19th century when, in a flash, the Great Fire of 1871 destroyed nearly all of it. But a new Chicago soon began to rise. Architect Daniel Burnham's 1909 plan envisioned a monumental city of wide avenues and magnificent public parks and buildings. As a result, today's Chicago is a collection of 20th-centiry architectural landmarks.

Top Chicago Attractions

Sears Tower At 1450 feet and 110 stories, the tallest building in the United States. Until recently the world's tallest building... more >>	Art Institute of Chicago Located on the southwest corner of Randolph and Michigan, the Cultural Center was completed in 1897. more >>
Magnificent Mile 'Mag Mile,' as it's widely known, is a shopper's paradise: you can find everything from the swankiest upscale boutiques to chainstores. more >>	Chicago Cultural Center Located on the southwest corner of Randolph and Michigan, the Cultural Center was completed in 1897. more >>
Lincoln Park The Lincoln Park area is found along the Lake, with Old Town to the south and Lakeview to the north. more >>	Shedd Aquarium The world's largest assortment of finned, amphibious and other aquatic creatures swim within the marble-clad confines of the Shedd Aquarium. more >>