Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan in Illinois. It was officially founded in 1833 around a small trading post, and its name grew from a word in the Miami-Illinois Native American language, most likely meaning «wild garlic» or onion, which grew densely along the local river.
The Birthplace of the Skyscraper
In 1871, a massive fire swept through large parts of the city, destroying thousands of buildings, but the rapid rebuilding that followed turned Chicago into a global architectural laboratory. The world's first modern skyscraper, built with a steel frame, rose there in 1885, making the city the birthplace of an architectural style that would reshape cities worldwide. Chicago today is home to some of the tallest towers on the American continent.
- The world's first modern skyscraper was built here in 1885
- The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 completely reshaped the city's architecture
- The birthplace of urban blues and jazz music in the United States
- The legendary Route 66 begins in the heart of the city
Chicago is known for its skyline along Lake Michigan and its lakeside parks, alongside its distinctive local cuisine, chief among it the deep-dish pizza invented there.
