“City of the Big Shoulders” Victor Ketov 11 “a” Chicago –

Just as the Midwest is considered the “most American” region, Chicago, Illinois, has been called the most typically American city. is the second city on the economic value and number of inhabitants in the country, the most large industrial, trade-transport, financial centre in the USA from the Appalachian Mountains westward.

For almost a half-century after the founding of the nation, Chicago remained a small settlement on the Chicago River, at the head of Lake Michigan, almost invisible in the middle of a vast, undeveloped prairie. It was burned down a few times, but rose again from the flames. Foreigners, commenting on America, classified the extraordinary vitality of Chicago along with Niagara Falls as one of the wonders of the New World.

Chicago was a center for meatpacking and grain storage, as well as for the manufacturing of farm equipment. And in this way, it played a key role in the growth of the Midwest and of the United States. Now it is the most significant in USA market wheat’s, corn, soybean, live-stock, its stock market - second after New-York’s market. In this city acts largest in USA corn exchange.

Territory modern Chicago yore belongs to Indians. Name “Chicago” is translated from Indian language as "strong scent", from rising on marshes wild pommel. A settling based in 1779 mulatto Dysable. A Town status has got in Bloom Chicago began in XIX medium in. with the building of the channel connected Lake Michigan with the river Mississippi, and lying of the railway from Atlantic seaside’s. Most tree million people live in Chicago. Area the city is 575 km2. City to pull along the Lake Michigan on 45 km. Sleeve a yard Chicago do its on 3 part: north (North-Side), south (South-Side) and west (West- Side). Port-industrial district situated in South-Side, the poorest quarters - in West-Side.

Chicago of today is the city of skyscrapers. They appeared due to the Great Fire at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1871, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern in a barn, stating a fire that destroyed Chicago. From the ashes of the fire rose that great modern innovation – the skyscraper. In the 1880s and 1890s, Chicago attracted engineers and architects from around America and Europe. These men, known as the Chicago School, included William Jenney, Louis Sullevan, John Root, and Frank Lloyd Wright.

The first in the world "skyscraper" (23 floors) was built in Chicago in Three from 6 most high buildings of the world inhere exactly here: the Sears Tower (110 floors, the second on the height a building of the world m), the John Hancock Tower (or “Big John”, 100 floors) and the Standard Oil Building (nicknamed “Big Stan”). the John Hancock Tower the Standard Oil Building the Sears Tower

The main avenue of Chicago is the Michigan- avenue is lying parallel to the coast. Between her and quay there is a circuit of parks, where are situated many cultural objects. In the Grant Park there are museums: the museum of the artistic institute of Chicago, the museum of the science and industry, the Field’s museum of the natural history, the Shedd’s aquarium; the. Public’s Centre with 15-a metre sculptural functioning of P.R. Picasso; the Symphonic orchestra, Blues-clubs. In the west suburb Oak-Park the eminent writer E.M.Hemingway grew up. And also the architect F.L.Write started his career (He built 25 houses here).