US: Chicago Travel Facts & Trivia
Sears Tower, Oak & Grant Park, Second City Comedy & Wrigley Field
Mar 31, 2007
Illinois, United States: Information on Cubs baseball, Ernest Hemingway's house, hotdogs, deep dish pizza, Museum of Contemporary Photography & Valentines Day Massacre
Chicago, Illinois, the United States of America, is one of the world’s greatest cities. Whether it’s holograms, pizza, baseball, Ernest Hemingway or tall buildings you’re after, there’s something for every visitor. Here are some facts and trivia that holidaymakers may find useful if they travel there.
- Whilst you may not find being constantly buffeted by winds particularly funny, Chicago is legendary for its comedy culture. It is regarded as the home of improvisational comedy, and the Second City comedy club has hosted many world-famous stand-up comics over the years. The roll call includes Bill Murray.
- The home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, Wrigley Field, is named after the founder of the chewing gum company. Quite apt, given the sticky situation the Cubs have been in over the last couple of years.
- Fans of the much-travelled Ernest Hemingway should head to Oak Park, where they can find the suicidal writer’s former home. The house has now been converted into a small museum, with exhibitions about Hemingway’s life and works.
- The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the US, and some would argue, the world. Constructed in 1974, and is 442m high.
- Whilst not exactly a foodie heaven, Chicago can claim to be the birthplace of two not-so-gourmet foodstuffs. The hot dog and deep dish pizza both originate there.
- The Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park is one of the biggest fountains in the world.
- If you like your attractions on the dark and grizzly side, then there are plenty of options available. The more sick-minded tourist may like to visit the home of notorious gangster Al Capone, or the site of the Valentines Day massacre. If you like things more on the grizzly rather than outright criminal side, try the International Museum of Surgical Science. It’ll tell you more than you really need to know about cutting into bodies and having a dig around with all manner of equipment.
- Feeling arty and need a quick dose of culture in the Windy City? Why not try the Museum of Contemporary Photography or Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows
- Chicago also does music rather well, particularly the blues. You can find Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar at the Chicago Blues Museum, while Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven was where many of the greats – including Muddy Waters – recorded.
- The world’s biggest collection of holograms can be found at the Museum of Holography.
- The Field Museum hosts the biggest Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered.
MORE TRAVEL FACTS AND TRIVIA
Countries: Austria, Australia,Bolivia, East Timor, Estonia, France, Indonesia, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, The Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Spain
Cities: Birmingham, Chicago, Detroit, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, Sydney, Venice
Regions: Algarve, Aragon, Basque Country, Puglia, Sicily
US States: Arizona,Kentucky, Michigan,Virginia
The copyright of the article US: Chicago Travel Facts & Trivia in Illinois Travel is owned by David Whitley. Permission to republish US: Chicago Travel Facts & Trivia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
