Chicago's History
Western Explorers (Marquette and Jolliet) first explored the Chicagland area in 1673. In 1779, Jean Baptist Point Dusable built the first settlement on land today referred to as Chicago. In 1803 the US Army built Fort Dearborn (Michigan Avenue and Wabash Avenue) which in 1812 was destroyer during the Black Hawk War also known as the Battle of Fort Dearborn.
With the abundance of natural resources and geographic location, Chicago quickly became the manufacturing Mecca and the key artery of America's railroad system. In 1871 however, Chicago experienced one of its greatest disasters: the Great Chicago Fire. The great inferno quickly destroyed this young and booming city. Chicagoans known for their determination, hard work ethics, and Midwestern hospitality, saw the disaster as an opportunity to quickly rebuild a new and modern city. Architects from across the country also saw this as an opportunity to design and experiment with the construction of new architectural landmarks in a city whose heart is made of gold.
Millions of new and recent immigrants and those that were discriminated against in other cities saw the rebuilding of Chicago as an opportunity to start a new life.
Today, over 130 years after the Great Chicago Fire, this remains true. Thousands of new immigrants choose to establish a new life in the heart of the Midwest: Chicago.
Visitors to Chicago are astounded by the city's and the surrounding suburbs rich cultural and ethnic diversity. Locals often state that the best way to explore these communities is on Chicago's public transportation: the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Within a bus ride or a ride on train (locally referred to as the "L") one can find himself/herself in communities such as Chinatown, Koreatown, Argyle Street (Chinese-Vietnamese Town), Andersonville (Swedish/Danish Town), Ukrainian Village, Little Polonia, German Town, Pilsen (Mexican), Devon Street (South Asian), Bronzeville (African American), Greektown, and Little Italy just to name a few. So why wait? Come