Chicago is the third largest city in the United States and is located in northeastern Illinois. It is the largest city in the Midwestern region and is the main economic and cultural centre of the region. Chicago is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes of North America. The Chicago and Calumet rivers cross the city. Founded in 1770 on the fringes of the French presence in the United States, Chicago became a municipality in 1833 and officially acquired the status of a city in 1837. It is the seat of Cook County. Chicago is also the seat of a French-speaking parish, undoubtedly a sign of its history linked to France. Chicago's Modern Architecture In the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1871, the reconstruction of the city attracted great architects from all over the United States. All experimentations are then allowed, and so modern architecture will be born. The creation of the steel structure and curtain wall, followed by the invention of the elevator, encouraged the emergence of the skyscraper. We will then talk about the "Chicago school". Afterwards, Chicago will strive to continue to play a leadership role in the evolution of architecture, allowing major innovators such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and many others to express themselves. Highlights include: The Wrigley Building, Robie House, Museum of Science and Industry, Marina City Twin Towers and the Chicago Cultural Center. Public Art and Millenium Park Although architecture is undoubtedly the most advanced form of public art, sculpture is another popular way of bringing art to the street level. The City of the Winds is particularly fortunate in this respect, both for its classical monuments, many of which are located in the city's most beautiful parks, and for the modern sculptures in its public and commercial squares. Picasso, Miró, Calder, Chagall, Dubuffet and its emblematic works can be admired on a stroll through the streets of the city centre, nicknamed the Loop, Oldenburg... The recent development of the Millennium Park has breathed new life into an already rich collection, with the addition of spectacular elements such as Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate and Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain. The discovery of monumental fountains, modern public sculptures and Frank Gehry's extraordinary Jay Pritzker Pavilion is well worth a visit. The beaches that border Lake Michigan Within the city of Chicago's boundaries, there are 34 beaches spanning some 24km. Most of them are safe and well maintained, and swimming is almost always good, even if the water is rather cold. The clarity of Lake Michigan's waters, at least near the shoreline, is surprising to the most sceptical. Located on the Gold Coast, at the foot of the elegant Oak Street and a stone's throw from the Hancock Center, the venerable Drake Hotel and the Magnificent Mile boutiques in downtown Chicago, the Oak Street Beach is undoubtedly the most chic beach in Chicago. It is also the easiest to reach from downtown. Grant Park and its prestigious museums Grant Park is a vast green space that runs along Lake Michigan at the city's downtown core. In addition to its beautiful alleys and gardens with fountains and monuments, it is home to some of the city's proudest institutions: the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the world's most important art museums, the Field Museum, the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum. Moreover, the Millennium Park mentioned above, with its extraordinary public squares and its fabulous outdoor amphitheatre, came a few years ago to extend it in a brilliant way to the north, adding to its already considerable prestige. Blues shows and bars Possibilities of outings, there's something for all tastes and all budgets in Chicago, but blues is still a must! The Chicago blues, the forerunner of rock, was born after World War II, when the electric guitar appeared. Willie Dixon, Otish Rush, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, founders of the legendary Chess recording studios, are among the pioneers of Chicago blues, perpetuated today by musicians like Buddy Guy. Moreover, you are not allowed to visit Chicago without stopping at the Buddy Guy's Legends temple of blues, just south of the Loop. It's not that the decor is particularly interesting or that the place is particularly pleasant or comfortable... But the music! Fabulous! The best musicians perform there regularly. During your visit, if you're lucky, the legendary legend of legends, Buddy Guy himself, could be on stage (he does it regularly). The experience will be absolutely unforgettable! Chicago, a sporting city Professional sport occupies a large place in Chicago with such revered clubs as the Bears (American football), Blackhawks (hockey; Stanley Cup champions in 2010,2013 and 2015), Bulls (basketball; winning team of six leagues in eight years in the 1990s, led by legendary Michael Jordan), White Sox and Cubs (baseball). According to popular belief, this latter team has been the victim of a bad fate, the Curse of the Billy Goat, since 1945, when William Sianis, owner of Billy Goat Tavern, was banned from entering the stadium. Furious, he then cast his cruel curse, and the poor Cubs have never participated in the World Baseball Series since (their last league conquest dates back to 1908!). Chicago, certainly a city of choice for sports fans!
