CHICAGO (WLS) — Happy birthday to the city of Chicago!
The city was officially founded on March 4, 1837.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
Fun Facts about Chicago
Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is famously credited as the individual who founded Chicago in the late 18th century, though the city was not officially incorporated until 1837.
Chicago is known as the United States’ railroad capital.
The city has more major railroads serving the city than any other place in America.
The “L” train system was the first elevated railway in the U.S., debuting in 1892.
Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country, and one of the few remaining free zoos in the U.S.
The Adler Planetarium was the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. It opened on May 12, 1930.
Constructed in the late 1860s, the Water Tower stands out as one of the few structures that survived the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It was skillfully designed by Architect William W. Boyington.
Chicago is home to the Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower, which is one of the largest skyscrapers in the world.
In 1973, the 110-story building became a prominent feature of the iconic Chicago skyline. Subsequently, broadcast antennas were incorporated into the structure in 1982, as indicated by the building’s official website.
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