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Overview |
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Chicago
is the major metropolis of America’s heartland,
with three million people hustling and bustling
in the city of skyscrapers that appears to rise
straight out of the waters of Lake Michigan, in
northern Illinois. Once a gangster’s hang-out synonymous
with infamous names such as Al Capone and Bonny
and Clyde, the ‘windy city’ today has a squeaky-clean
reputation as an international business and commercial
capital boasting an eclectic mix of architecture,
world-class theatre, art exhibitions, and super-enthusiastic
sportsmanship.
The Art Institute of Chicago |
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An impressive pair
of bronze lions guard the entrance to the Art Institute
of Chicago in South Michigan Avenue, housing one
of the greatest art collections in the world. Works
on show date from 3,000 BC through to the present,
including a renowned collection of Impressionist
art featuring numerous Monet paintings. The Institute
has it all, from Japanese ukiyo-e prints and ancient
Egyptian bronzes to masterpieces of 20th century
sculpture. Exhibits include paintings and drawings,
photographs, textiles, sculpture and architectural
works. The Institute has two restaurants, one set
in a garden, as well as a gift shop. |
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The
Field Museum |
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Chicago’s
awesome Field Museum of Natural History in Lake
Shore Drive is home to 'Sue', the largest and most
complete Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil ever found. The
dinosaur came to rest here after being unearthed
in South Dakota when the Museum bought her remains
for more than $8-million. Sue is just one of the
drawcards at the museum which offers other marvels
like getting a bug’s eye view in an underground
adventure; descending into an Egyptian tomb; watching
a glowing lava flow; and getting up close and personal
with the man-eating lions of Tsavo. The museum specialises
in interactive and diorama-type exhibits across
its nine acres of exhibition space. |
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Frank
Lloyd Wright’s Home |
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America’s
most renowned architect lived and worked in the
complex at 951 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, which served
as private residence, studio and architectural laboratory
for the first twenty years of his career, between
1889 (when he was 22) and 1909. Wright’s haven started
out as a simple cottage and was continually added
on to by the architect resulting in unusual features
such as a balcony suspended on chains. The complex
is administered by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation
Trust which offers guided tours on weekdays at 11am,
1pm and 3pm, and during weekends at 11am and 3.30pm.
The neighbourhood of Oak Park contains the world’s
largest concentration of Wright-designed buildings
and a self-guided exterior audio tour of the 26
structures in the area is available between 10am
and 3.30pm daily. |
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