Navy Pier. You can even ride the Centennial Wheel, a fully
enclosed and heated 15-story Ferris wheel modeled after the
original Ferris wheel that was unveiled in Chicago during the
World Columbian Exposition in 1893.
Chicago is well known for its history, but did you know the
city plays an especially prominent role in the world of logistics
and supply chain management? Founded at a site strategical-
ly located between the watersheds of the Mississippi River
and the Great Lakes, the city quickly blossomed as a center
for moving goods—by canal, by rail, and later, by truck. The
Illinois/Michigan Canal opened in 1848 and along with the
railroads, helped the city rise to prominence in the cattle, hog,
lumber, and wheat industries. Chicago is the birthplace of the
first refrigerated railcar, the first steel railroad, and the first
elevated railroad, known as the “L.”
The city has also developed a reputation as a must-visit
destination for diners. Chicago is one of only three cities in
the United States to have its restaurants rated by the presti-
gious Michelin guides. As one of the world’s most sought-af-
ter dining destinations, Chicago boasts an incredible array of
internationally recognized classics and highly regarded new-
comers. Another option for exploring the city’s rich dining
scene is to sign up for a food tour. Visit www.choosechicago.
com to find a unique tour for you and your colleagues.
FUN FACTS ABOUT CHICAGO
b Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837.
b The world’s first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building,
was built in Chicago in 1885. At 10 stories high, the building might not be considered terribly impressive today,
but it represented a remarkable achievement at the time.
Among other features, it was the first tall building to use
structural steel in its frame.
b The 1893 Columbian Exposition grounds were so striking-
ly attractive and popular that they launched the so-called
“City Beautiful” movement, which promoted the incorpo-
ration of parks, boulevards, and other green spaces into
American city planning.
b In 1900, Chicago successfully completed a massive and
highly innovative engineering project—reversing the flow
of the Chicago River so that it emptied into the Mississippi
River, instead of Lake Michigan. Each year, the Chicago
River is dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day; how-
ever, to celebrate the historic Chicago Cubs 2016 World
Championship, the river was dyed blue for the first time.
b More than 52 million people visit Chicago annually.
b Walt Disney was born in Chicago in 1901. He stud-
ied drawing at Chicago’s McKinley High School and the
Institute of Fine Arts.
b When it opened in 1991, the Harold Washington Library
Center, with approximately 6. 5 million books, was the
world’s largest municipal library.
b The “Historic Route 66” begins in Chicago at Grant Park
on Adams Street in front of the Art Institute of Chicago.
b The atom was first split under the football stands of Stagg
Field at the University of Chicago.
b The Twinkie was invented during the Depression by
Chicagoan Jimmy Dewar, at the time, manager of Chicago’s
Continental Baking Co. The dessert was dubbed “Twinkie”
after Dewar spotted an ad for Twinkle Toe Shoes.
