Chicagoland - Chicago and the suburbs, Illinois

Chicago has always been a dreamy city. The skyline is a sign of the leading innovation that occurred here through the 19th and 20th century. Discovered by Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette in 1673, Chicago is now the 3rd largest city in the US. Almost burnt to the ground in the Great Chicago fire of 1870, the city bounced back to glory by 1893, hosting the World Columbian Expo, commemorating the discovery by Columbus of America. It was for this event that the great Ferris Wheel was built. (Read More...)

The fire served a fresh start for the leading architects of that era. Chicago as city became planned, and skyscrapers were built with spires and domes rather than just blocks of concrete. The skyline of Chicago though not as vast as New York is definitely more diverse. Take an architecture cruise and you will learn that in Chicago Impossible is nothing. A jewellers building where cars can drive straight into the various floors, Skyscrapers built over railway tracks, a whole building raised 12 feet while people were dining in it, anything was possible.

Another interesting feature to see in Chicago is the locking dock, connecting Lake Michigan and the Chicago river. The flow of the river was reversed in 1900. In the process the river is about 0.5 feet lower than the lake. So when travelling from the river to the lake, boats are tied to the locking dock, and the entrance to the river is closed, while the door to the lake is opened, and water is rushed in, raising the boat to the lake's level. Then during the return, the door to the lake is closed, and the door to the river is opened, emptying water into the river, lowering the boat to the river's level. This happens 24 hours, through the day for all boats travelling between the two. Very interesting. (Read more...)

Chicago is a vast city, too big to write a quick note about. So see the pictures and most should contain more details. Happy Browsing!

[ Chicago - Choose Chicago! ]	[ Chicago suburbs - the lake, the neighborhoods and the historic scenic route ]	[ Fireworks, Chicago ]	[ Chicago Botanic Garden ]
[ Lincoln Park, Chicago ]	[ Field Museum, Chicago ]	[ Art Institute of Chicago ]	[ Brookfield Zoo, Chicago ]
[ Cosley Zoo, Wheaton, IL ]	[ Shedd Aquarium, Chicago ]	[ Chicago Air and Water Show ]	[ Chicago Auto Show 2008 ]
[ Chicago Cubs Baseball, Wrigley Field ]	[ Chicago Bulls Basketball, United Center ]	[ Harlem Globetrotters at the United Center, Chicago ]	[ Arlington Park racetrack, Chicago ]