Discover the Windy City: 27 Amazing Fun Facts About Chicago You Won't Believe

1. Chicago's Founding Father

Who needs the Fountain of Youth when you've got Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the man who took roots at the swanky spot where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan and turned it into the bustling metropolis we love today? Life, uh, found a way: This French-African explorer was the first non-indigenous permanent settler in the area, making waves in the Chicago River settlement and earning himself a well-deserved title of Chicago's founding father.
Source => theskydeck.com

2. St. Patrick's Green River

When it's not busy fighting crime or trying to find the lost city of Atlantis, the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA has a little trick up its sleeve to spread some luck o' the Irish: Every year, since 1962, the union has taken charge of turning the Chicago River a vibrant shade of green for St. Patrick's Day, using a secret orange dye and attracting hordes of merrymakers along the riverbanks and surrounding streets.
Source => abc7chicago.com

Did you know Jesse W. Fell played a huge role in Illinois history, founding universities and towns while convincing his friend Abraham Lincoln to take part in iconic debates? Discover the impact of this Renaissance man on Illinois and beyond! 🌳🏘️🎩

=> Fun Facts about Illinois

3. Wacky Wrigley Field

What happens when a field is built in a Chicago minute and left-field dimensions are a total home run? Wrigley Field turns into the Wild West of baseball parks, of course: Originally built as Weeghman Park in a mere two months in 1914, the Field greeted the Chicago Federal League team with a left-field distance that permitted an almost comical number of home runs in just the first three games. The subsequent expansions included a huge remodeling in the 1920s, yet somehow, Wrigley Field still lovingly clings to its old-timey charm.
Source => sabr.org

4. Shopping Paradise: Magnificent Mile

Here's a fun way to shop till you drop: Chicago's Magnificent Mile is like the ultimate buffet for shopaholics, foodies, and culture vultures, all rolled into a stylish square mile! And there's more: this district boasts over 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 60 hotels, and oodles of entertainment, including shows, theaters, galleries, museums, and tours aplenty.
Source => themagnificentmile.com

5. Chicago: Confectionery Capital

Sweet tooths, unite in the Windy City: Chicago played a pivotal role in the confectionery revolution of America, giving birth to palate-pleasers like Milk Duds, Heath Bars, and Red Hot Dollars, while also being the adopted home to the geniuses behind the famous Red Bird Peppermint Puffs.
Source => candyfavorites.com

6. Elevation Diet: Lifting Chicago

Back in the 1800s, Chicagoans must've been tired of living the low life, literally! So they put the entire city on an elevation diet, lifting pounds off the ground—not of weight, but of cityscape: Engineers remarkably raised Chicago's buildings, streets, and sidewalks by several feet using jackscrews to tackle major drainage problems, illness outbreaks, and improve the city's overall health. A team of 600 men executed this engineering marvel in just five days, lifting a row of brick and stone structures weighing 35,000 tons, with no interruption to business as usual.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Route 66: Endpoints Shuffle

Just like a road trip with wacky roadside attractions, flickering neon signs, and a questionable gas station burrito: Route 66's true endpoints seem to change faster than the songs on your vintage mixed tape. Hold onto your hats, folks: Despite common belief, the official endpoints of this legendary highway shifted throughout its history, with multiple locations in Chicago and Santa Monica claiming the title. For instance, from 1935-1964, the western endpoint was at the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards, not the Santa Monica Pier, while the eastern endpoint migrated from Cicero to Grant Park in Chicago. So go ahead and add "roadsign hopscotch" to your Route 66 bucket list!
Source => theroute-66.com

8. Nuclear Meltdown: Chicago Pile-1

Chicago: where the 'sauce' runs as deep as the pizza and you're just a reactor away from a nuclear meltdown! In this city of gustatory profundity, the University of Chicago's abandoned Stagg Field witnessed the world's first self-sustaining, controlled nuclear chain reaction in 1942, orchestrated by none other than Nobel Prize-winning scientist Enrico Fermi. The reactor - called Chicago Pile-1 - was chock full of graphite blocks, uranium, and a whole lot of scientific moxie, revolutionizing nuclear science and paving the way for early reactors. Who knew pie had such lofty neighbors?
Source => energy.gov

9. Grid System Pre-Fire

Hold on to your deep-dish pizzas and brace yourself for another windy revelation: Chicago's famous grid system was actually established before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to replace the haphazard street layout, with the fire only fanning the flames for a more fire-resistant urban utopia packed with cast iron and steel skyscrapers.
Source => thereader.mitpress.mit.edu

10. Alinea: Award-winning Gastronomy

If the Michelin Guide were the Academy Awards, Alinea would be Meryl Streep: Chicago's very own temple of gastronomy, Alinea, isn't only Michelin-star-studded but also boasts a resumé that would make Hollywood's A-listers green with envy. From being crowned Best Restaurant in the World by Elite Traveler to ruling North America's dining scene according to The World's 50 Best Restaurants, Alinea has proven its culinary prowess time and time again, also scooping up multiple James Beard Awards for Outstanding Restaurant, Service, and Chef in the U.S.
Source => alinearestaurant.com

11. Carp Cowboys: Fish Fertilizer

Move over cattle rustlers, make way for the Carp Cowboys: In Chicago, these modern-day piscine pioneers have wrangled in the invasive Asian Carp population in the Illinois River's Dresden pool by a whopping 96%. By using their one-of-a-kind angling techniques, they’ve herded millions of these scaly outlaws, shipping them off as fish fertilizer, critter treats, and keeping the door open for a culinary rebranding. This ragtag posse is set to snatch up a record-breaking 2 million pounds of these finned trespassers by year's end.
Source => abc7chicago.com

12. Willis Tower: Sky-High Thrills

Feeling on top of the world and yearning for a heavenly perspective that'll knock your socks off? Well, Willis Tower in Chicago has just the ticket for high-altitude thrill-seekers: Boasting a spectacular height of 1,353 feet, the Willis Tower is considered the tallest building in Chicago and the third-tallest in the Western Hemisphere. With its Skydeck on the 103rd floor featuring The Ledge, a glass balcony that extends 4.3 feet outside the tower, you can experience breathtaking views spanning up to four states, all the while learning about Chicago's rich history through interactive exhibits. It's the perfect blend of hair-raising excitement and awe-inspiring vistas, open for business seven days a week!
Source => theskydeck.com

13. Deep-Dish Pizza: A Saucy Tale

In a saucy tale of innovation, starring a deep and crusty duo who welcomed the cheese and toppings to layer it up like a pizza penthouse party: In 1943, Chicagoans Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo gave birth to the legendary Chicago deep-dish pizza at Pizzeria Uno, catering to American tastes with a thick crust and layers of cheesy goodness topped with tomato sauce, igniting a national love affair with this unique pizza style.
Source => pequodspizza.com

14. Elevated Trains: Unique Transit

Who says Chicagoans can't touch the sky without bungee cords soaked in deep dish pizza grease? Behold, the city's elevated trains: Chicago is the only US city with an intricate network of elevated trains in its downtown area, maintaining this unique and iconic mode of transportation since 1892, including steel-plate tracks that resemble the Eiffel Tower and the original Ferris Wheel.
Source => architecture.org

15. 31st Street Beach: Water Adventures

Whoever said beach days are only filled with sunbathing and sandcastles clearly never visited the Windy City's gem of a beach: Chicago's 31st Street Beach, within Burnham Park, offers thrilling activities like jet skiing, pontoon boat rentals, kayaking, and paddleboarding against a backdrop of jaw-dropping skyline views, all designed by the renowned architect Daniel Burnham.
Source => choosechicago.com

16. United Center: Sports & Concert Mecca

When the Windy City's sports mogul and rockstar dads built the ultimate man cave: The United Center, opened in 1994, is one of America's largest indoor arenas, capable of hosting over 23,000 fans, featuring legendary concerts, political events, and thrilling college basketball, with over forty million guests indulging themselves in its magnificent spectacle since its inception.
Source => unitedcenter.com

17. Second City: Hogwarts of Humor

If laughter is the best medicine, then Chicago’s Second City Training Center is a comedy pharmacy for all ages: Serving over 60 years of chuckle-filled prescriptions, Second City boasts theaters and training centers around the globe, education programs, and alumni like Tina Fey and Steve Carell, making it the Hogwarts of humor.
Source => secondcity.com

18. Silver Hugo Awards: Best Actress

Why did the actress win an award in Chicago? She had a "Hugo" impact on the audience! : The Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress is presented annually at the Chicago International Film Festival since 1967 to outstanding performers like Hilary Swank and Olivia Colman, handpicked by a discerning jury.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

19. Chicago-Style Hot Dog: Veggie Couture

If a hot dog stumbled through a garden and emerged victorious, donning every veggie garnish imaginable like a culinary fashionista: behold, the Chicago-style hot dog – an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, adorned with yellow mustard, white onions, green relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt, with the Puckered Pickle Co.'s special package from Chicago providing the neon relish, peppers, and crunchy kosher pickle spears.
Source => puckeredpickle.com

20. Home Insurance Building: Skyscraper Origin

Before birds flew south for the winter, they flocked to the Windy City to learn the ins-and-outs of "high-rise living": The first ever skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago in 1884, pioneering the use of a skeleton frame that let buildings soar taller and stronger, spawning a legion of cloud-piercing structures and sculpting the iconic Chicago skyline we admire today.
Source => chicagohistory.org

21. Warehouse: Birthplace of House Music

Where Frankie Knuckles went to "house" school and everybody felt at home: The Warehouse in Chicago's West Loop was the birthplace of house music during the late 1970s to early 1980s and a safe haven for Black and queer communities. This historic three-story building, where legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles spun tunes that united dancers in an inclusive ambiance, is now pursuing landmark status to preserve its vital role in Chicago's music scene and marginalized communities.
Source => blockclubchicago.org

22. Monadnock Building: Office Jenga

In a time when architects played a real-life game of Jenga with-office-buildings-as-pieces, the Windy City was no exception: Chicago's Monadnock Building, completed in 1891, boasted a 16-story north half that was the world's tallest office building with load-bearing walls at the time, while its south half featured a steel-framed design by the firm of Holabird and Roche.
Source => britannica.com

23. Blood Banks: Dr. Fantus' Legacy

When Dr. Bernard Fantus wasn't busy being a vampire's worst nightmare, he was revolutionizing modern medicine: In 1937, at Chicago's Cook County Hospital, he established the world's first blood preservation laboratory, paving the way for blood banks and saving countless lives. Additional insight into this medical maestro's contributions can be found in the historical materials kindly provided by his niece, Muriel Fulton.
Source => lib.uchicago.edu

24. Riverwalk: Architectural Nirvana

Why did the tourist cross the riverwalk? To catch a glimpse of Chicago's stunning architecture, of course! But jokes aside: Chicago's Riverwalk spans over 1.25 miles and is divided into four districts – The Confluence, The Arcade, The Civic, and the Esplanade – offering breathtaking views of the city's world-renowned architecture and the perfect opportunity to explore the rich history of the famous Chicago River.
Source => chicago.gov

25. Gotham City: Made in New Jersey

If Batman ever wants to start a career in reality television, he already has the perfect tagline: "The Real Superhero of New Jersey": Gotham City, Batman's famed stomping grounds, is actually located in the Garden State! Conceived by the imaginative minds of Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Gotham's shadowy architecture and moody atmosphere owe much of their inspiration to New York City, but it's firmly rooted in New Jersey and has been so since Batman #4 made its debut in 1940.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

26. Nobel Prize Superheroes

Who needs the Avengers when you've got real-life Nobel superheroes lurking in the Windy City?: The University of Chicago Medicine boasts 12 Nobel Prize-winning affiliations, including James Dewey Watson for his DNA-shattering molecular discoveries, and Charles Brenton Huggins for his cancer-conquering hormonal treatments.
Source => uchicagomedicine.org

27. Alinea: Culinary Mad Science

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to chew on a work of art, dare to step into the culinary world of a mad scientist: Chicago's Alinea restaurant, founded by chef Grant Achatz, boasts progressive American cuisine using molecular gastronomy techniques to create visually astounding and emotionally evocative dishes, with Achatz having perfected his craft at prestigious institutions and through sheer experimentation.
Source => insidehook.com