| Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, | | | | To start off, Don told us that the name of the city |
| 6:15 am | | | | of Chicago is an Indian word for "stinky onion |
| Yesterday, after our lovely Austrian breakfast we | | | | swamp". He also explained that Chicago is a city of |
| went downtown to the Chicago Cultural Center, the | | | | superlatives: 3 of the world's 10 highest buildings are |
| main downtown information hub for tourists, to ask | | | | located here. Chicago is also widely considered to be |
| some questions about the Pullman Historic District, a | | | | the birthplace of modern architecture and a living |
| planned industrial community, built in the 1880s by | | | | museum of architecture, showcasing some of the |
| industrial magnate George Pullman, creator of the | | | | world's most famous architects including Frank Lloyd |
| famous Pullman sleeper cars. We figured this would | | | | Wright, Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der |
| be an interesting place to visit since it brings together | | | | Rohe and Frank Gehry. |
| architecture, social and industrial history, and it would | | | | Chicago likes to do everything big. The worlds largest |
| really give us insight into one of the most interesting | | | | public library is located here: the Harold Washington |
| personalities of Chicago's history. | | | | Library Center houses 2 million books. Chicago is also |
| To get more information about this neighbourhood | | | | home to the largest building in the United States |
| we talked to one of the volunteer greeters who | | | | (excluding the Pentagon): the Merchandise Mart has |
| staff the Chicago Cultural Center and offer their local | | | | 90 acres of floor space, housed in an Art Deco |
| expertise to visitors free of charge. The Chicago | | | | landmark. Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park is one of |
| Greeter program today offers 150 greeters speaking | | | | the world's largest fountains. Chicago also has the |
| 20 languages and the Greeter program is one of the | | | | only river in the world that flows backwards. |
| best ways of getting to know the city through the | | | | Engineers reversed the Chicago River in 1900 for |
| eyes of a local resident. | | | | sanitary purposes. Here's another interesting fact: |
| As a matter of fact, I had registered electronically | | | | Chicago also has the largest Polish population outside |
| for a Chicago Greeter Tour prior to my departure, | | | | of Warsaw. |
| but something had gone wrong with my registration | | | | Our local expert Don took us through the building and |
| and as a result I was not assigned a greeter. The | | | | showed us the two stained glass domes, the exhibit |
| good thing is that the City of Chicago also offers | | | | halls, the photo collection of Chicago landmarks, and |
| "InstaGreeters" - local volunteers / experts who take | | | | to keep going along the line of superlatives, Don |
| people on downtown walking tours without the | | | | gave us a brief synopsis of Millennium Park, located |
| necessity of a prior registration. | | | | right across Michigan Avenue from the Chicago |
| This is how we happened upon our very own | | | | Cultural Center. The idea for Millennium Park was |
| personal InstaGreeter tour: Chicago Greeter and local | | | | conceived by famous mayor Richard M. Daley, and |
| expert Don talked to us a bit about the Pullman | | | | with the help of private sector donations Millennium |
| Historic District, but the more we talked, and the | | | | Park has become one of the most impressive |
| more he saw that we were really interested, he | | | | outdoor venues anywhere. The project cost $495 |
| asked us whether we wanted a 20 minute tour of | | | | million, of which $220 million were financed privately. |
| the Chicago Cultural Center. Considering that this is a | | | | Our Chicago Greeter Don, a former vice-president at |
| Chicago landmark we readily agreed. | | | | Motorola, is very knowledgeable about the history of |
| The Chicago Cultural Center was originally dedicated | | | | Chicago and very passionate about his city. His pride |
| in 1897 as the city's original Public Library. It is an | | | | in his city is obvious, and there is a lot to be proud |
| impressive limestone-faced building with intricate | | | | of. For me, Chicago's waterfront including Grant Park, |
| details, marble staircases, patterned ceilings, beautiful | | | | the lakefront trail and its beaches are some of the |
| floor mosaics and two impressive stained glass | | | | most awesome features of this city. In total Chicago |
| domes. The cupola on the south side of the building is | | | | has more than 7300 acres of parkland, 552 parks, 33 |
| the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome. | | | | beaches, nine museums, two world-class |
| Today the Cultural Center houses one of the city's | | | | conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife |
| Visitor Information Centers , various galleries, | | | | gardens, and it's not surprising that Chicago has won |
| exhibition and meeting spaces, the Landmark Chicago | | | | numerous awards including "Best City in the World" |
| Gallery which displays photographs from the | | | | and other accolades. |
| permanent collection of Chicago landmarks, the | | | | With Don's help we got a great overview of the |
| 294-seat Claudia Cassidy Theater as well as the | | | | Cultural Center and a bit of insight into Chicago's |
| Studio Theater and various other facilities. You can | | | | interesting history. It was the perfect preparation for |
| even get married inside the Chicago Cultural Center. | | | | our tour of the Pullman Historic District, an industrial |
| Designed in the beaux-arts style by the Boston firm | | | | community created by George Pullman, an industrial |
| Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, the Chicago Cultural | | | | despot, yet a foresightful social entrepreneur who, |
| Center was completed in 1897 and dedicated as the | | | | according to Don, was universally despised. |
| city's original Chicago Public Library. Completed at a | | | | Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were |
| cost of nearly $2 million, this remarkable monument | | | | looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social |
| was inspired by the neo-classical style of the World's | | | | experiment. |
| Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. | | | | |