A Global City
In 1893, Chicago announced itself to the world when it hosted the World Columbian Exposition, a major historical event that drew 27.5 million visitors to the city. Those visitors would have seen the new campus of the University of Chicago, which was founded three years earlier, still under construction. Today, campus and the city have changed considerably, but Chicago continues to draw visitors, business people, and scholars from around the world, and the University is still positioned to draw from and contribute to the life of this great city. The legacy of Exposition is still visible today in UChicago's home neighborhood of Hyde Park in parkland and cultural institutions.
Today, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It is a hub for trade and commerce, home to a Federal Reserve Bank, and nine Fortune 500 companies in the city and 22 more in the Chicagoland area, and one of the world’s busiest airports. The birthplace of the skyscraper, Chicago still prides itself on architectural gems with the Chicago River and Lake Michigan for stunning settings. The arts and culture flourish, with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of shows and concerts, world-class museums, one of the world’s largest public libraries.
Chicago has grown to become a truly global city in the last 150 years, as evidenced by the contributions of each of its 77 distinctive neighborhoods contributes to the city’s rich culture. Here, you’ll never have to venture far to find a familiar community or a new experience. Find your new favorite food in Greektown, eat deep dish pizza in Lincoln Park, cheer on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center, and listen to soul, jazz, and the blues at venues all across the city.