- Chicago is basically the birthplace of everything. Ok not everything but, so many things.
These Chicago fun facts are interesting and full of history. What’s the coolest thing you know about Chicago?
The Chicago River flows backwards (and sometimes it’s green.) The
Chicago River was redirected into the Mississippi to prevent contamination of Lake Michigan, making it the only river in the world that flows backwards. Oh and the green part, that’s only in March when the river is dyed for St. Patrick’s Day.
The first skyscraper in the world was erected in 1885 after being started in 1884. The world’s first tallest building is supported by an iron steel frame instead of load-bearing walls. The building was the first the incorporate steel as a structural material.
Chicago is home to the first Ferris Wheel. It was invented by a civil
engineer named George Washington Gale Ferris Jr in 1893. The first Ferris wheel ride cost $0.50 and lasted for 20 minutes.
The famous Route 66 actually starts in Chicago and ends all the way across the United States in Santa Monica, California. This famous route passes through part of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The Bureau of Public roads launched the nation’s first federal highway system in 1926 and Route 66 had its official start. Did you know about this as one of the Chicago fun facts?
Chicago is home to the twinkie. James A. Dewar created this treat in
1931 when he was managing the Continental Baking Company plant in River Forest. He named his creamy white filling stuffed shortcake after an ad for Twinkle Toe Shoes. He claimed to have had three with milk before bed and even said he enhanced his son’s athletic successes to eating Twinkies. Vanilla has always been the dominant filling flavor with limited productions of several fruit flavors along with chocolate and banana.
Many Talented People Come From Chicago Like:
- Benny Goodman aka Benjamin David Goodman, was an American jazz musician, bandleader, and renowned clarinet player. People calling him the King of Swing.
- Rachel Welch is an American actress and model known as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood and won a Golden Globe Award in 1975. Is this one of your favorite Chicago fun facts?
- Harrison Ford rose to fame in Hollywood after his performance as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
- Jennifer Hudson signed her first record label in the Windy City after rising to fame as an American Idol finalist.
- John Cusack is an American actor, producer, and screenwriter who at present day, still lives in Chicago and a fan of the Chicago Cubs.
- Bill Murray is most famous for his acting roles in The Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day and is a huge Chicago Cubs fan.
- Melissa McCarthy is a famous comedian and Hollywood actress.
- Quincy Jones is an American musical performer, producer, arranger, and composer.
- Robin Williams was famous for his acting performances in Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, and Dead Poets Society.
- Walt Disney, known as Walter Elias Disney, is renowned for his contributions to animation and the many Disney characters he brought to life.
Chicago was hydraulically raised several feet, like six to be exact. In the 1850s and 60s, engineers raised the city out of its low-lying swampy ground on jackscrews. The work was completed by private property owners and public funds. This has to be the most interesting of the Chicago fun facts.
The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago was founded in 1868. It’s one of the
most historic zoos in American and one of the only with free admissions in the country.
Chicago was named after garlic. Did you know this as one of the coolest Chicago fun facts? The name was derived from the Miami-Illinois word shikaakwa, referring to the garlic plant, Allium tricoccum, which grew in abundance in the area, along the river.
The coolest of the Chicago fun facts is that they raised the whole city because honestly, who does that? Tell me your favorites in the comments!