I haven't been to Chicago since 1966 and we both were greatly surprised how much we loved the city. The architecture makes it stand out as a world class city. Some say it has the best architecture in the United State and I would have to agree so far. The range of styles and the way they play off each other is wonderful!
Frank Lloyd Wright - Chicago
The first thing we did on our way into Chicago was to stop at the former home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright in the Oak Park neighborhood where there are several of his buildings.
The first thing we did on our way into Chicago was to stop at the former home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright in the Oak Park neighborhood where there are several of his buildings.
Downtown Chicago
Visiting downtown Chicago with a camper of any size can be problematic, but we found a plan that worked well for us. We decided to rent a room by the airport that allowed overnight RV parking and we slept in the camper and only used the hotel shower. It worked out perfectly and was a cheap stay for under $50 per night.
We drove the RT around town easily, but parking it was a different story since most of the parking is in garages that are too short for us. After a bit of research online before we came I found that the Adler Planetarium has the best outdoor secure parking lot. The first day we met a friend, Loni, at the Planetarium for lunch and she was so kind to drive us around town while we just got to sightsee! What a treat to meet with her. She even brought doggie treats!
We drove the RT around town easily, but parking it was a different story since most of the parking is in garages that are too short for us. After a bit of research online before we came I found that the Adler Planetarium has the best outdoor secure parking lot. The first day we met a friend, Loni, at the Planetarium for lunch and she was so kind to drive us around town while we just got to sightsee! What a treat to meet with her. She even brought doggie treats!
The next day we left the RT in the Adler lot with the dogs. We took a bus directly into downtown where we had booked an architectural boat tour which viewed the city from the Chicago river. Afterwards we walked around downtown and then late in the afternoon we were able to walk to the Field Museum. It was a perfect set up and we were able take the dogs out for a long walk in the middle of the day.
Marshall Field's was an upscale department store in the loop at downtown Chicago and was bought in 2005 by Macy's. More about Marshall Field below.
Chicago World's Fair 1893
On May 1, 1893, The World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair opened. Over the next six months, more than 26 million visitors would flock to the 600-acre fairgrounds and 200-plus buildings full of art, food, entertainment and technological gadgets. That was almost a third of the American population at that time. I read that people mortgaged their homes to attend the fair and it was an event of a lifetime with the world opening up before them.
The fair, ostensibly meant to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the New World, served as a showcase for a fully rebuilt and vibrant Chicago, just two decades removed from its devastating fire.
Marshall Field who created the famous department store had a long history with the city of Chicago and he helped to finance this Chicago World's Fair along with creating the famous Field Museum.
The fair was the first large event to have been electrified. It was at a time when cities were not extensively electrified so this city with lights made a big impression. It was easy to imagine the times and event at this exhibit.
On May 1, 1893, The World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair opened. Over the next six months, more than 26 million visitors would flock to the 600-acre fairgrounds and 200-plus buildings full of art, food, entertainment and technological gadgets. That was almost a third of the American population at that time. I read that people mortgaged their homes to attend the fair and it was an event of a lifetime with the world opening up before them.
The fair, ostensibly meant to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the New World, served as a showcase for a fully rebuilt and vibrant Chicago, just two decades removed from its devastating fire.
Marshall Field who created the famous department store had a long history with the city of Chicago and he helped to finance this Chicago World's Fair along with creating the famous Field Museum.
The fair was the first large event to have been electrified. It was at a time when cities were not extensively electrified so this city with lights made a big impression. It was easy to imagine the times and event at this exhibit.
The Field Museum - Chicago
We went to the Field Museum at the end of a long day. It was open late that night and we ended up getting lost in the museum and literally could not find out way out for half an hour.
First we saw the 1893 Chicago World's Fair Exhibit. They had many of the original items from the fair displays and many photographs. It must have been amazing to have experience so many new things at one time.
First we saw the 1893 Chicago World's Fair Exhibit. They had many of the original items from the fair displays and many photographs. It must have been amazing to have experience so many new things at one time.
We viewed three exhibits that were placed end to end in a maze that wound its way through the perimeter of one half of one of the three floors of the museum. Once inside we didn't have many options to get out of the puzzle, in fact we found none, but perhaps we missed it. We began in an exhibit on the Ancient Americas and after an hour of walking we got to the next section, an exhibit of Northwest Coast and Arctic People. We realized that we had seen only 5% of the museum. We had to step up the pace to get out and had not seen any other museum visitor for half an hour. It was odd to have the whole place to ourselves. All the parents with children had gone home to dinner. We felt like we were in a movie about people lost in the museum. After another 45 minutes of zig zagging we reached the North American Indian exhibit. I have never seen such an extensive collection of tradition clothing and we had to stop to try to take it in even though we were dragging ourselves at this point. What is it about the slow museum walk that makes both of our backs hurt? I was always looking for a seat to sit to view things and unbend myself. At the same time we were in awe of the exhibits. We made our way out and then could not resist going into the Egyptian tomb before we left.
What an amazing museum The Field Museum is. We needed another two days here.
What an amazing museum The Field Museum is. We needed another two days here.
University of Chicago
My grandfather taught at the University of Chicago from 1910 to 1939. In 1940 he became Dean of Education at University of California. I heard about the university during my childhood when I lived with my grandfather.
I felt that the campus had a feeling of Oxford or some other old English University. It looked as if it had a closed campus at one time with the gate below. The old buildings were all attached with gated entrances.
My grandfather taught at the University of Chicago from 1910 to 1939. In 1940 he became Dean of Education at University of California. I heard about the university during my childhood when I lived with my grandfather.
I felt that the campus had a feeling of Oxford or some other old English University. It looked as if it had a closed campus at one time with the gate below. The old buildings were all attached with gated entrances.