F ree Chicago Tourist Attractions
While many of Chicago's museums and attractions every so often have "free days", there are a number of Chicago tourist attractions that offer free admission year round. Here are some of my favorite free Chicago attractions.
Buckingham Fountain
Opened May 26, 1927, the Buckingham Fountain is one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks, and its free hourly water show in the summer is fun for young and old.
Millennium Park
There's plenty to do at Chicago's Millennium Park -- you can gaze at yours and the city's reflection in The Bean, listen to a concert at the Pritzker Pavilion, quietly reflect at the Lurie Garden, or splash around in the Crown Fountain.
Lincoln Park Zoo
An oasis in the city, the Lincoln Park Zoo open and free 365 days a year -- and just because it's free doesn't mean it's lacking. Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the most beautiful in the country, featuring historical architecture and world-class wildlife exhibits.
Lincoln Park Conservatory
Located at the north end of the zoo, the Lincoln Park Conservatory was built over the course of 5 years between 1890 and 1895, and features four serene greenhouses -- the Orchid House, the Fernery, the Palm House, and the Show House, all displaying fantastic arrays of flora.
Most Visited Chicago Tourist Attractions
Chicago has a large number of tourist attractions, but there are undoubtedly a select handful that are by far the most popular with visitors. Here are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the Windy City.
Buckingham Fountain
Opened May 26, 1927, the Buckingham Fountain is one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks, and its hourly water show in the summer is fun for young and old.
Hancock Observatory
The Hancock Observatory in the John Hancock Center may not be as high as the Sears Tower Skydeck, but at 1,000 feet up the view of Chicago is still breathtaking. It also has the added bonus of being able to enjoy a cocktail at the Signature Room on the 95th floor.
Lincoln Park Zoo
An oasis in the city, the Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the most beautiful in the country, featuring historical architecture and world-class wildlife exhibits. The zoo caters to the crowds 365 days a year, and has an admission price that can't be beat: zero! Zoo admission is free for everyone.
Millennium Park
Still the source of controversy with some locals over its cost overruns and somewhat hodgepodge design, but the large crowds strolling about Millennium Park don't seem to care. The Bean (officially known as Cloud Gate) is quickly on its way to becoming Chicago's most recognizable icon.
Navy Pier
Located just east of downtown on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier offers scores of entertainment and dining options, boat cruises, and an excellent view of Lake Michigan, making it one of Chicago's top tourist attractions.
Sears Tower Skydeck
Soaring at 110 stories tall, the Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America and remains a huge tourist attraction, namely due to its Skydeck observatory offering a view of Chicago at 1,353 feet (412 meters).
Shedd Aquarium
With almost 2 million visitors a year, the Shedd Aquarium easily qualifies as one of Chicago's most popular attractions. And rightly so -- it's one of the premier aquariums in the country. A word to the wise: get there early, or you may be greeted with a long line snaking out the door and all the way down the aquarium's steps. Shedd Aquarium is part of Chicago's Museum Campus.
Wrigley Field
Games at Wrigley Field consistently sell out -- and if you're familiar with the Chicago Cubs record you know it isn't because of the quality baseball being played there (unless you count the visiting team). More likely they come to soak in the history of the United States second oldest ballpark and enjoy the party atmosphere of the crowd, especially in the bleacher seats.
芝加哥的历史History of Chicago
成立于 1800 年的芝加哥曾经被称为美国最后的大城，意思就是说美国再也不会有城市的规模会超越芝加哥，但现在已被洛杉矶及纽约市取代。它有世界最好的摩登建筑物，从 Frank Lloyd Wright 住屋到 110 层楼高的希尔大楼〈Sears Tower〉让芝加哥成为美国中部心脏地区文化和金融的像征。在市中心有许多美国大公司的总部和期货交易市场，在这里处理全世界三分之一的农业和工业产品买卖。
芝加哥的第一个居民是来自非洲 Santo Domingo 的法国后裔 Jean Baptiste Point du Sable，他是一个毛皮制品商人。 Du Sable 于 1779 年时在芝加哥河出口建造了第一个屯垦区。
在 1830 年时，为了要集资兴建衔接芝加哥及密西西比河的伊利诺和密西根运河，芝加哥开始卖地，三年之后，人口为350 的芝加哥镇成立，芝加哥之名取自于印地安语，意思是"强壮" 或"伟大"！
1837 年时，芝加哥镇的人口达到 4,170 人，同年芝加哥镇升格为芝加哥市。当伊利诺及密西根运河于1848 年完工及铁路通车后，芝加哥市成为交通运输的枢纽，在接下来的三年内，芝加哥的人口成长了超过三倍。
1871 年十月八日，一场起于 West Side 的火灾燃烧失去控制，两天后，芝加哥大火〈the Great Chicago Fire〉导致三百人死亡，九万多人无家可归，财物损失高达两亿美元！大火过后，芝加哥有了重新规划及兴建的机会。
到了1893 年时，芝加哥主办了哥伦比亚世界博览会〈Columbia Exposition〉，在六个月的展览期间共吸引了超过二千六百万人次的访客参观博览会。为了要提供展览会的运输工具，芝加哥交通局〈Chicago Transit Authority〉提供了高架铁路，今天，这个高架铁路系统 ''L'' 火车还继续环绕市中央的商业区，当地人并之为"the Loop"。芝加哥市的文化建设也是在这个时代展开，当地的管弦乐团，图书馆及主要的博物馆都是在这个时期建立。当时哥伦比亚博览会的艺术宫则成为现在的科学和工业博物馆〈Museum of Science and Industry〉。
到了 1909 年，新成立的芝加哥规划小组出版了 Daneil Burnham''s 广泛的计划。芝加哥市的沿湖区，全市的公园及森林绿地环都是这个计划的一部份，这也是全美国第一拥有此一计划的城市。
芝加哥在它的市区内完整的反映出多元文化的传统，现在每年吸引数万名访客游览这个城市。芝加哥现在的人口有世界各地包括非洲裔，亚洲，欧洲，南美洲及土生土长的美国人等大约三百万人口。
芝加哥系美国第二大都市，也有人称之为“美国的超级市场”The Super Market of America。无论从那一个角度看来，它都是一个典型的美国式都市，既是商业中心，又是交通要卫，市内到处是在建筑史上占一席地位的奇丽建筑物。可眺望密歇根湖的公园，蜿蜒的水际线，另有一番美妙景色。还有，无论是国际性会议，或美国国内较大规模的会议，大都在这一都市举行，因这又获得“议坛之城”的别称。
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