Fun Facts About Chicago: Your Essential Trivia

By Katie Sagal

How much do you know about Chicago? Test your knowledge of the Windy City with our trivia below. These fun facts are sure to come in handy on your Chicago vacation!

Top Chicago facts 1-10

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  1. The world’s very first skyscraper was erected in the city in 1885.
  2. Skydeck Chicago is a film star! Catch a glimpse of the experience in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
  3. The Willis Tower is the eighth tallest building in the world, coming in at 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall.
  4. Chicago invented deep-dish pizza.
  5. The Navy Pier Centennial Wheel was preceded by an iconic Ferris wheel, which welcomed over 17 million riders in its ten-year life span.
  6. Historic Route 66 begins in Chicago (and terminates in Santa Monica, CA).
  7. The Field Museum’s newest addition is Máximo the Titanosaur: the largest dinosaur ever discovered, weighing 70 tons.
  8. Chicago is known as “The Windy City” for the bombast of its politicians—not for its weather.
  9. Chicago is home to an impressive 56 museums, including the famous Art Institute of Chicago.
  10. The Taste of Chicago — a summer legend in Chicago — is the world’s largest free outdoor food festival.

Top Chicago facts 11-20

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  1. The Museum of Contemporary Art is the only museum in the city to feature dozens of works with the title, “Untitled.”
  2. Batman’s iconic Gotham City was based on Chicago; not, as many people assume, NYC.
  3. The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the world’s rare free zoos.
  4. Malört, one of the most distinctive liquors in the world (and some say the most unpalatable), was created in Chicago. Today, more than 90% of the national consumption of Malört is still confined to the greater Chicago area.
  5. The Adler Planetarium was America’s first planetarium.
  6. The Adler Planetarium is also one of the best places to get a great view of the skyline.
  7. The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the largest science museums in the world, with more than 400,000 square feet of exhibit space.
  8. The renowned Pablo Picasso sculpture, created specifically for the city and located in Richard J. Daley Plaza, weighs an intimidating 162 tons. It is also called 'Untitled'.
  9. Chicago's Brookfield Zoo was the first such institution in the world to successfully perform brain surgery on a gorilla.
  10. The Brookfield Zoo is also known for its majestic fountain, named for Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States who is remembered for expanding protections on wildlife.

Top Chicago facts 21-25

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  1. The Chicago Theater's grand lobby is inspired by the Royal Chapel at Versailles.
  2. The Chicago Theater also boasts one of the oldest Wurlitzer pipe organs remaining in existence.
  3. The Ernest Hemingway Home was the first house to have electricity in Oak Park.
  4. The American Writer’s Museum is the only museum in the world devoted exclusively to American writers and their works.
  5. The Shedd Aquarium has more than 32,000 animal inhabitants.

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Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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The Chicago skyline from the shores of Lake Michigan
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Chicago in January

Winter doesn’t stop Chicagoans getting out and about, and even outdoor events continue to enliven and entertain those living in the city. Anyone looking to experience the festive season with reduced crowds and cheaper accommodation costs might also look to Chicago in January rather than in December, since many seasonal attractions extend their stay into the first month of the year. There are plenty of permanent attractions to enjoy too, from the Art Institute of Chicago to Shedd Aquarium. Here’s our guide to the windy city’s top January sights. Weather in Chicago in January It’s fair to say you don’t travel to Chicago in January for the weather! There’s no hiding the fact that it gets very cold in Chicago in January, with average temperatures of just 30°F. With windchill – this is the windy city after all – and with cloud free nights, temperatures can fall as low as 12°F. However, as those other defenders of cold climates – the Norwegians – say, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Woolen items will be your best friends, whether that’s thermal underwear and base layers or thick knitted sweaters, beanies, scarfs and gloves. A little over 1.5 inches of rain and snow means you’ll want to add a waterproof jacket or umbrella to your packing list, whilst weatherproof shoes or boots comfortable enough to walk in all day are also going to give you a major win over the weather. Cling on to the Christmas spirit January is known to be one of the most depressing times of year, but you can help keep the blues at bay by stretching the Christmas frivolities beyond the New Year’s Eve fireworks above the rides of Navy Pier and into the first week of January. The city’s official Christmas tree, a Blue Spruce topping out at 50 feet high, remains lit in Millennium Park from 6AM until 11PM daily until January 9. So close you can get the two in the same photograph, Millennium Park is also the location of one of Chicago’s newest landmarks – Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture. The Museum of Science and Industry’s annual Christmas Around the World exhibition is another attraction which continues into January. A further reason to pay a visit to this phenomenal museum, this seasonal exhibition contains around 50 Christmas trees, each decorated to symbolize festive celebrations around the world. Entrance is included as part of a standard ticket. Explore the four corners of the world It may be missing the crabs of Christmas Island, but Shedd Aquarium should still be high on the list of things to do in Chicago in January for anyone with an interest in our marine habitats. A stone’s throw from Lake Michigan, its location couldn’t be better. Being entirely enclosed, it doesn’t really matter what the weather might be doing either. In addition to uncovering life below the surface of the Great Lakes, the aquarium does an excellent job at revealing the wonders in all the world’s oceans. Taking a 360° tour of a Caribbean reef populated by turtles and sharks, and Pacific waters with beluga whales, dolphins and sea otters are just a few of a long list of highlights. As neighbors go, few could be better than the Field Museum. Covering pretty much everything Shedd Aquarium doesn’t, its grand halls hold an apparently endless stream of natural marvels, from the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever discovered – called Sue – to artefacts from the ancient Americas. For a modern look at the world, head to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). Sandwiched between Lake Shore Park and Historic Water Tower, its immense collection is focused on the years from 1945 to the present day. Its asymmetric staircase and views across Lake Michigan are worthy of inclusion in its collection. Don’t ignore the parks and gardens Green spaces aren’t necessarily at their best in the winter months. However, Lincoln Park Conservatory is just one spot with year-round color. This gem of the Victorian age comprises four different halls. The Palm House contains a fiddle-leaf rubber fig put in place in 1891, whilst the Orchid Room boasts hundreds of these tropical blooms. The cooler houses are also bright with the red leaves of Mexican poinsettias as part of the winter show – ending a week into January. Back in Millennium Park, the bare trees provide a backdrop to McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which has skaters gliding across its surface right through to the spring. Situated on the plaza of the same name, it’s one of America’s biggest inner city rinks, but still dwarfed by the area covered by the skating ribbon which meanders through Maggie Daley Park and is twice the size. Humboldt Park has a much more residential feel, located amid the neat grid of streets to the west of the trendy Wicker Park neighborhood. At its heart lie a series of lagoons, though its paths are better trod for the architectural and sculptural landmarks dotting the park. These include the Bavarian-style stables and receptory building, acting as the visitor center and Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, as well as two bronze bison at the east entrance of the Formal Gardens. Head to the heights Birthplace of the steel-framed skyscraper, Chicago is known for its high-rise central districts. One of the best ways of getting a bird’s eye view is from the Skydeck observation station on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower. From almost 1400 feet up, most of the city’s landmarks can be spotted from its windows – and parts of Illinois’ neighboring states too. Outdoing even this is The Ledge, a group of three glass boxes which overhang the sides of the tower. Make sure you’ve got a head for heights before stepping onto their glass floors! From ground level there’s still plenty to see though, with many of Chicago’s best-known buildings recognizable from movies including Home Alone, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Saving in Chicago in January Far from being shut down for the winter, Chicagoans seem to bask in the snowy scenes their city sees. And because of the range of winter and seasonal attractions in Chicago in January, you could say the month is actually one of the best times of the year to visit. Whenever you choose to take your vacation in Chicago, be sure to do it with Go City. Month after month and year after year we’ve provided visitors to cities around the world with incredible savings on admission to top attractions.
Ian Packham
A couple capture the scene on a Chicago street
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Where to stay in Chicago

Made up of a long list of neighborhoods and districts each offering something different, deciding where to stay in Chicago can be a bit of a headache, especially if you’re a first-time visitor to the city. Whatever you’re looking for out of a leisure trip to the windy city, our pick of the best areas of Chicago to stay is sure to be a help! The Loop Enclosed by the Chicago River to one side and Grant Park to the other, the Loop is probably the best place to stay in Chicago for those new to the city since its streets include the central business district and many of the city’s top attractions, including the Willis Tower’s Skydeck observation level and the Art Institute of Chicago. It takes its name from the elevated railway which has looped around it since the Great Fire of 1871. Synonymous to most with the downtown area, it’s also one of the commercial hubs of the city. Being at the heart of the action (Route 66 starts here too), there’s no shortage of hotels either. Predominantly populated by luxury stays – the Hyatts and Radisson Blus of this world – budget travelers will likely find themselves looking at more affordable neighborhoods nearby, such as Lincoln Park. However, the Loop does it have a good quantity of backpacker hostels for those just looking for a central place to lay their head at the end of a long day of sightseeing. Streeterville Immediately north of the Loop on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Streeterville neighborhood is still close enough to downtown to be a worthwhile base and is a good pick for solo travelers and visiting couples. Known to be a very safe neighborhood in Chicago for visitors, it has some similarities to its southern counterpart. Gleaming tower blocks line the Magnificent Mile (a part of North Michigan Avenue), containing roughly 450 stores as well as the famed 875 North Michigan Avenue (John Hancock Center). Its southern extent stretches out into Lake Michigan thanks to the 50 acre Navy Pier. Its rides include Centennial Wheel, which replicates the world’s first Ferris Wheel, built in 1893 for the World’s Fair. Lincoln Park A little further out, but linked to the rest of the city by a number of metro stations and lines, Lincoln Park is one of the largest and most affluent districts in Chicago’s North Side. It is popular with young families and urban professionals, ensuring it feels fresh and ever changing. Named after the city’s largest park, which sits beside Lake Michigan for an uninterrupted seven mile run, the area is one of the best parts of Chicago for those on a budget. Attractions include the 32,000 creatures which call Lincoln Park Zoo their home, as well as Chicago History Museum, the first port of call for anyone interested in discovering how Chicago became one of the world’s leading cities. Lincoln Park also contains the northern half of Old Town, where buildings remain low to the ground – at least by Chicago standards – to create a homely feel. This is where you’ll find the Second City Theater, the previous stomping ground of everyone from Tina Fey to John Belushi. River North It may not have the lake shore, but River North does have a reputation as the coolest place to stay in Chicago. Separated from Streeterville by the Magnificent Mile, River North oozes stylishness and perhaps contradiction too – it has more galleries than anywhere outside of Manhattan, but is also known for its nightlife. For this, you should head to Hubbard Street. The banks of the Chicago River have to be the top place for a stroll in the area, whilst landmark buildings to look out for include the Wrigley Building and the monumental behemoth of a structure known as Merchandise Mart, whose exterior façade becomes the world’s largest projector screen for a few months of each year. A good range of restaurants, many with riverside terraces, means you’re unlikely to go hungry for long. West Loop That said, foodies should stake their claim to accommodation in West Loop, which – that’s right – is west of the Loop. Occasionally also known as the Near West Side, West Loop shines from a gastronomic perspective, with Greektown and Little Italy just two destinations you should be aware of thanks to the twentieth century’s influx of immigrants into this former industrial port area. Randolph Street is otherwise known as Restaurant Row for good reason, but for sumptuous food without any pretension head to the French Market tucked inside Ogilvie train station. Its 30+ independent vendors make it one of the best spots in the city for fresh ingredients as well as mouthwatering dishes from sushi to empanadas. Seating is available. Wicker Park Well-to-do Wicker Park is growing in confidence when it comes to where to stay in Chicago. Northwest of West Loop and centered around the Damen metro stop, this neighborhood has the sort of self-assurance which usually leads to great things. And Wicker Park is no exception to this rule. A charmingly informal blend of eclectically-stocked clothing stores, groundbreaking restaurants and we-just-have-to-stop-there bakeries, Wicker Park is also pretty hot when it comes to night spots, with a wealth of live music venues all vying to be the place to head. With median house prices of $550,000 it can never really be called hipster, but that’s certainly the vibe it gives off. Budgeting for trips to Chicago Finding where to stay in Chicago that’s right for you comes down to a balance of location, feel and price. The best neighborhoods in Chicago for visitors are generally those in and around the downtown area, although the closer you are to the Loop, the higher the per night cost you’re probably looking at. When it comes to attraction admission, you can make incredible savings simply by opting to travel with Go City. Our pre-pay passes take all the mystery out of budgeting for trips to Chicago whilst providing you with great savings on many of the city’s top attractions.
Ian Packham
Chicago Riverwalk Tour
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Chicago Memorial Day Weekend - 10+ Fun Things to Do in May

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer for many - so why not take advantage of the celebratory weekend and head to Chicago? Make the most of your long weekend in Chicago and explore the marvels of one of America's greatest cities where there's plenty to see and do in May. If you’re looking for Chicago Memorial Day Weekend ideas, check out some of these local activities, events and fun things do in Chicago including... Navy Pier Fireworks Hop aboard a Lake Cruise Bike a car-free Lakeshore Drive Enjoy one of the many street festivals and more... Save on Attraction Admission Regular admission to a number of these attractions are included on the Go Chicago pass. Choose as you go from dozens of Chicago attractions and activities and save up to 55% off combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available passes and Chicago attractions – learn more. Please note, some of these special May and Memorial Day weekend events may be separately ticketed and not included on the Go Chicago pass. Navy Pier Fireworks and Fun See the City From Above Hop Aboard a Cruise Connect with Nature Bike the Drive Chicago Memorial Day Parade By Photo by U.S. Army Public Affairs - Midwest / soldiersmediacenter (Memorial Day Observance in Chicago) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons Visited annually by about 10,000 Chicagoans, the parade begins promptly at noon and commemorates veterans and active duty personnel. It starts at the intersection of State and Lake Street and continues down State Street to Van Buren. It begins with a wreath-laying ceremony, if you want to make sure you get a spot at the beginning. Getting In: The Chicago Memorial Day Parade is free and open to the public. Hit Up the Beach Visit a Conservatory Enjoy some nature in an urban setting. Two of Chicago's most popular conservatories are the Garfield Park Conservatory and The Lincoln Park Conservatory. You can even "visit" tropical climates within different areas of the conservatories. This is the perfect way to step away from the crowds and take in some natural beauty. Getting In: the Garfield Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Conservatory are both free and open to the public. Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival Kicking off Chicago’s outdoor street fest, this music festival is located just steps from the Belmont Red Line ‘El’ stop. The lineup gets better every year, featuring delightful cover bands and unique local music. No tickets are required, but donations are strongly encouraged to benefit the Central Lakeview Merchants Association. There are actually a bevy of festivals to choose from on Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago, from Irish-themed events to EDM concerts. Check out the events calendars for more ideas and ticketing info. Getting In: The Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival is separately ticketed and is not included with the Go Chicago pass. Shopping (& Window Shopping) Remember to Save on Attraction Admission There you go - plenty of fun ideas for things to do in Chicago in May to help you plan your Memorial Day weekend itinerary. Remember, many of these great ideas are included on the Go Chicago pass, where you can save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. We really hope you consider adding a few of these popular options to your upcoming plans. Enjoy!
Katie Sagal

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