Did You Know?

The beautiful gold onion dome on the top of the Hotel Intercontinental, originally built by the Shriners as the Medinah Athletic Club in 1929, was designed to be a docking structure for dirigibles. Blimps were shaping up to be the elite mode of air transport in the early 20th Century until the 1937 Hindenberg Disaster took the air out of the movement...so to speak.

Tour guide Michael Corcoran REALLY likes to interact with Chicago's landmarks, here emulating a portion of Chicago's famous Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. The Chicago Fact Book (available from City Hall) lists the fountain as the "world's largest illuminated fountain".

Superlatives are quite the rage in the Windy City...

Links We Like

Chicago is a city of variety and contrasts, diversity and opportunity, normal and weird. Here are a few pages of links to get you on your way as you navigate your way around our fabulous metropolis!

• Around Chicago
  Food, getting around, etc.
• Chicago's Art and History
  Virtually visit some of Chicago's museums and other sites dedicated to Chicago art and history.
• Just for Fun
  Delve deeper into specific Chicago figures or just have a chuckle.
• Get the Book!
  Michael's book Hollywood on Lake Michigan, 2nd edition, will be available in June 2013.