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Chicago

USAAmericas
Explore Chicago in Nearaway.in

Local Greeting

Hey / What's up

How locals say hello in Chicago

Best Time to Visit

Summer (June–August) — spring and fall are beautiful too

Must Eat

Deep dish pizzaChicago-style hot dogItalian beef sandwichChicago-style popcornGarrett Mix

Local Tip

Chicago's 'L' train (the elevated rail) is the best way to see the city skyline for the price of a transit ticket.

Origin Story

Modern
📅 Founded 1833 (town); 1837 (city)Originally Shikaakwa (Potawatomi: wild leeks)By Indigenous Potawatomi people (original); Fort Dearborn established 1803 by US Army

The Potawatomi name Shikaakwa described this river portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi for centuries. The US Army built Fort Dearborn in 1803; the town incorporated in 1833 with just 350 residents. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 burned the city to the ground in 36 hours — and the architects who arrived to rebuild it invented the skyscraper, creating the modern city form that now defines every major metropolis on Earth.

Fun Fact

Chicago was rebuilt almost entirely after the Great Fire of 1871 — the result is one of the world's greatest collections of modern architecture.

Cultural Dos

  • ✓Walk the Riverwalk along the Chicago River
  • ✓Take an architecture boat tour
  • ✓Try Giordano's deep dish — call it a casserole if you want

Cultural Don'ts

  • ✕Call it 'The Chi' unless you're a local
  • ✕Diss the Cubs OR the White Sox around fans
  • ✕Skip the Art Institute

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