The first non-Indian to settle within Chicago’s future boundaries was a Santo Domingan of mixed African and European ancestry, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, who arrived around 1780. In October 1871, a fire destroyed one-third of Chicago and left more than 100,000 homeless. The factories and railroads were largely spared, and the city rebuilt with astonishing speed.
The 2000 U.S. Census reported Chicago’s first decade-over-decade population increase since 1950. Immigrants still flock to the “windy city,” though now from Asia and Latin America more than Europe. Chicago remains a center of trade: Airports supplement the old rail and water transit hubs, and agricultural futures are traded electronically from the floor of its storied Mercantile Exchange.
Designed by Anish Kapoor, this statue is an awesome place to take pictures and enjoy the city skyline.
More InfoThe observation deck at the Willis Tower offers amazing views of the city, but it's not for the faint of heart!
More InfoDuring the season, enjoy a baseball game at Wrigley Field, the oldest ballpark in the National League.
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