Chicago passes today as the unofficial capital of the inside part of the United States! It's called 'the city that works ", but still bears the appellation of the " Windy City "due to the strong winds are present throughout the year. Its brief history tells us that there was first mentioned in 1803 when the U.S. Army built a fort for defense. It was only in 1825 when the city transformed. At first it was a small border town, but today is the third largest U.S. city with a population of 6.8 million inhabitants and a major center of industry, commerce, culture and sports. It established some of the most prestigious schools in the United States and residents are proud that their city operates some of the most powerful games national sports teams.
The name Chicago is linked to the struggle waged by workers living and working conditions better. In 1887 a large meeting of workers was violently repressed by police. In memory of the victims then, on 1 May, the rally was chosen as International Workers' Day. Also, the name Chicago is linked to the infamous organized crime capital of the U.S. Prohibition era of the '20s. The city is famous for jazz and blue clubs. But for us the most special feature of the city remains undeniably the stunning architecture.There are buildings which harmoniously combine different styles, famous buildings known worldwide.
It is a view widely accepted by everyone that skyscrapers were born in Chicago. In 1871, a devastating fire destroyed one third of the city, but no human power, so that the city was rebuilt from the foundation. The streets became wider and health conditions better. Visionary architects built beautiful buildings, interesting, modern, bold for its time, which still remain in great admiration. Tall buildings were built using long steel pipes first, thereby ensuring resistance to strong winds in the area. Pillars were placed which made buildings filled with concrete rock layer and set the rock to the earth. So Sears Tower was built, named last year Willis Tower, completed in 1973, one of the first skyscraper in the world. Skeleton Tower is composed of nine huge pipes of different heights, which have rectangular cross sections, forming the basis of a huge square with sides of 69 meters. The building has 110 floors, 442 meters high, but two television antennas, reaching 520 meters. After destroying the World Trade Center, Sears Tower became the tallest building in the U.S. and the fifth in the world.
The Tower has 16,000 bronze-colored windows, washed by six automatic washing windows, eight times a year. Wishing to attract more tourists in 1985, a viewing pavilion for tourists (1.5 million annually), 103 floor was added where you can admire the magnificent panorama of the city.
This beautiful building will be overcome by another, now under construction, called Chicago Spire, the creation of a Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava. It will be one of the largest buildings in the world and it will radically change the city's skyline and will be the next tourist attraction of the city. Chicago Spire will rotate 360 degrees and will spiral two apartments with the same view. This building will be 610 meters in height, with 150 floors and 1194 apartments.
By Maria Morari
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The cities with the most beautiful sky-scrapers in the world .
