5 Things to See in Chicago
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Among other sometimes faded American cities, Chicago stands out from the crowd with an
interesting mixture of vintage, arts and influencing minorities. Chicago’s friendly
people, amazing architecture and tasty food attracts thousands of visitors every year. If
you’re still wondering whether you should visit, we sorted out 5 of these attractions
and put them in perspective for you.
1. Field Museum
Chicago’s Field Museum is considered one of the jewels of the city and known as
one of the finest natural history museums in the world. Its fame worldwide came when the
museum was featured in Spielberg’s movies, as home base for archaeologists in the
Indiana Jones movies. The museum still hosts the collection for which it was first opened
– World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. Since then, the museum has grown
to such an extent that it became home to more than 20 million specimens and a 25,000
volume natural history library. Regardless of the time of year you’ll be visiting, the
museum has both permanent and temporary exhibitions – from animals to
underground adventures, from gems to fossils and from Ancient Egypt to the Japanese art.
2. Cloud Gate
Referred to as one of the most famous sculptures in the United States, the Cloud Gate is a
public work by British artist Anish Kapoor. It’s the center piece of the AT&T plaza
in Millennium Park. Affectionately referred to as The Bean, the odd sculpture consists of 168
stainless steel plates, being inspired by liquid mercury. Cloud Gate weighs in at over 110tons, and is 66 feet long and 33 feet high. Its structure was chosen as the result of a design
competition and went through numerous technological issues until it was unveiled during the
Millennium Park grand opening on July 15, 2004.
3. Buckingham fountain
Another famous landmark in Chicago, the Buckingham fountain located at Columbus Drive
and Congress Parkway in Grant Park is one of the largest in the world. Designed by Edward
H. Bennett after the Latona Fountain at Versailles, the fountain was opened in May of 1927,
with its four sea horses on the sides representing the four states Lake Michigan belongs to:
Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. There is an amazing water display for 20 minutes,
every hour on the hour, when water shoots up to 150 feet in the air. The show continues in
the evening when light in music take the same tone as the water display.
4. Crown Fountain
Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa with the people of Chicago in mind, the Crown
fountain is yet another amazing art work, added to the city’s impressive collection.
The Crown consists of two 50-foot glass block towers and a shallow pool at the bottom.
Unlike many other fountains, this is an interactive one, which means it uses LEDs to display
videos of nature and of Chicago’s people. In warm months, the fountain spouts water
through the nozzle on each of the tower’s sides.
5. Chinatown
Another unique attraction in Chicago is the fascinating Chinatown neighborhood, located in
the Armour Square community area. If you’re fascinated about the Chinese culture,
its foods or traditions, then Chinatown is a must-see. Apart from the Chinese gift shops or
medicine stores, you also get to see an impressive mural depicting the history of Chinese
immigrants in United States, sculptures of the animals in the Chinese zodiac found in the
Square, the Chinatown Gate and many, many more.