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Chicago History continued...
The first two white men known to have visited the area that is now Chicago were Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette. They first visited the area in 1673. The first permanent settler in Chicago was John Kinzie. Kinzie took over a fur trading post in 1796 that was established in 1791 by a fur trapper named Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable. Since he is considered to be the first permanent settler, Kinzie is known as the “father of Chicago.” Fort Dearborn was established in 1804. Fort Dearborn was a blockhouse and a stockade. It was evacuated in 1812 when more than half of its garrison was massacred by Potawatomi and Ottawa Indians. These two tribes remained loyal to the British. The original plans for Chicago were laid out in 1830. Chicago was incorporated as a village in 1833 and as a city in 1837. Then, in 1871, disaster struck the city. The Great Fire, as it has become known, wiped out an area about four miles long and nearly a mile wide. In all, more than two thousand acres were destroyed. However, most of the city's railways and stockyards survived the fire intact. Out of the wooden ashes, new, modern buildings rose, made of steel and stone.
Throughout its history as a major city, Chicago has been the home of many famous and noteworthy Americans. Among them are: Walt Disney, Michael Crichton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, Bob Newhart, Jim Belushi, Hugh Hefner, Gary Shandling, Gene Siskel and Robert Townsend. These are just a few of the famous Americans who have called Chicago home and left their mark there.
Chicago receives nearly 30 million visitors each year so it is fortunate that there is never a shortage of things to do. The city contains over 500 parks, nearly 50 museums and over 60 miles of riverfront. In 1893, it hosted the World's Columbia Exposition which attracted 26 million visitors during its six month duration. The world's first steel-framed skyscraper, the Reliance Building, was built in Chicago. The city is also home to the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History and Navy Pier. Sears Tower, one of the world's tallest buildings and O'Hare International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports, are both located in Chicago.
The city is also home to many libraries, parades and festivals. This is partially due to the city being an important cultural center. Over 50 languages are spoken in Chicago.
The city is also the headquarters for many professional sports teams. The Chicago Bears of the NFL, the Chicago Bulls of the NBA and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL and the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball all make their homes in the “Windy City.”
In all, it can be said that Chicago is a city of opposites. It has the busy bustling city streets, to go along with its scenic, tranquil parks. It is the home of famous people, as well as regular folks. Regardless of the nickname, it is hard to believe that Chicago is “second” to any other city in the United States.
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