The Windy City Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Chicago Water Tower

This Gothic style artifice was constructed of limestone blocks and completed in 1869. It was the first American Water Landmark selected by the American Water Works Association.

Answer: The John Hancock Center

The John Hancock Center is a 100-story multifunctional structure. It houses 48 floors of apartments, 29 floors of offices, stores, a hotel, ice rink, radio and television stations, and a swimming pool. Its observation deck offers one of the best views of the lakefront and the Loop.

Answer: Wrigley Field

Built in 1914, Wrigley Field has been home to the Chicago Cubs since 1915 and is the second oldest major league park behind Boston's Fenway Park (which was built in 1912). It is the site of many famous events, such as Babe Ruth's called shot and the 1917 duel of no-hitters when Jim "Hippo" Vaughn and the Reds' Fred Toney threw no-hitters for 9.0 innings before Cincinnati's Jim Thorpe (of Olympic fame) drove in the only run in the 10th inning. Toney finished with a no-hitter. (Thanks to http://www.wrigleyexpansion.com/wrigleyhist.html for their information).

Answer: Marina City

Marina City was built in 1964 and is comprised of two twin 60-story buildings. Although not one of the most famous buildings in Chicago, it does mark Chicago as a city on the forward edge of modern urban architecture. It, like the John Hancock Center, is a multifunctional building with 18 stories of parking, apartments, shops, restaurants, banks, recreation facilities, and a theater.

Answer: The John G. Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium is located in the Grant Park Complex and has several notable exhibits; the two most famous are the Caribbean Reef and the Oceanarium. The Caribbean Reef is a 90,000 gallon fish tank that houses over 70 species of fish, including rays and sharks.

Here you can learn about several of the species while they are hand fed. The Oceanarium is a 3,000,000 gallon wonder that houses beluga whales and white-sided dolphins to name a couple of species.

Answer: Navy Pier

Built in 1916, Navy Pier was originally called Municipal Pier #2, and was built to support commercial shipping and also provide a venue for entertainment (theater etc.) During World War I and World War II it was used for military purposes, training mostly. Following the war it was the Chicago branch of the University of Illinois until it moved to its current location.

After this period Navy Pier started to decay until refurbished into a vibrant entertainment center in 1994.

Answer: The Willis Tower

Built in 1974, the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, was the tallest building in the world until 1997 when the Petronas Twin Towers were built in Malaysia. There are some who contend that the Willis Tower is still the tallest building as the height of the antennae on the Petronas Twin Towers are included in their height, while the antennae on the Sears Tower are not, since they are not an actual part of the building.

Answer: The Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile stretches along the northern portion of Michigan Ave. between the Lake Shore Drive and the Chicago River. It is a wide avenue filled with exclusive shops, museums, and ritzy hotels and restaurants. Some of the sights along this stretch are the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Saks Fifth Ave., and the Medinah Athletic Club.

Answer: Chicago Mercantile Exchange

The CME is the United States' largest futures exchange. This organization also gives back to the city it resides in. The CME Foundation is a charitable organization that provides disaster relief funds as well as meeting the needs of Chicago neighborhoods.

Answer: Chicago Cultural Center

Built in 1897, this landmark is now the official reception venue. It is also the United States' first free admission municipal cultural center and provides over 1,000 comprehensive art expositions each year. Located in downtown Chicago, it is one of the top ten tourist attractions in the city.

Answer: Lincoln Park Zoo

The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoological gardens in the United States but is also one of the most modern. Established in 1868, the zoo relies heavily on private donations to remain open. It provides realistic environments for its inhabitants and plenty of educational opportunities. Its displays range from a "functional" farm to a rookery.

Answer: The Notebaert Nature Museum

Located across the street from the Lincoln Park Zoo, this fabulous structure houses numerous exhibits all designed to make learning fun. There are permanent exhibits, like the butterfly exhibit, which constantly draw a crowd of children. This is one of the newest museums in Chicago and certainly one of the more enjoyable ones to visit, whether you are a child or an adult.

Answer: Richard Daley Center

The Richard Daley Center was constructed in 1965 and was originally called the Chicago Civic Center. It was designed to house offices and court rooms. The Picasso, which is untitled, was installed in 1967.

Answer: The Museum of Science and Industry

Built in 1893 to house the Palace of Fine Arts for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, this museum eventually went on to house the Field Museum of Natural History until it moved into its current structure in 1921. It was then reconstructed to house the Museum of Science and Industry.

This museum is always very busy because almost all of its exhibits are interactive and make learning fun for children and adults of all ages.

Answer: The Art Institute of Chicago

Built on the rubble of the Chicago Fire and established in 1879 as an art museum and school, the Art Institute of Chicago encompasses more than 5000 years of human expression from cultures around the world. It houses 12 departments that range from textiles to armor and from ancient to photography.

Its school is continually recognized as one of the best art schools in the world and it is always expanding to ensure that its visitors are exposed to the widest array of art possible. (thanks to http://www.artic.edu/aic/aboutus/wip/ for this information).

Answer: The Tribune Tower

Built in 1925, the Tribune Tower was determined by a contest to design the "world's most beautiful building". This base of this building has stones from 120 different famous structures from around the world including the Taj Mahal, the Parthenon, and Mark Twain's "Injun Joe Cave".

Answer: The Field Museum of Natural History

Dedicated to public learning and established in 1893 as the Columbian Museum of Chicago, this museum was charged with "accumulation and dissemination of knowledge, and the preservation and exhibition of objects illustrating art, archaeology, science and history." Later renamed the Field Museum to reflect its true mission, the museum moved into its current location in 1921.

It sits in the middle of Chicago's Museum Campus and is home to many fine permanent and visiting exhibits. (Information comes from http://www.fieldmuseum.org/)

Answer: Biograph Theater

Built in 1914, this still operational neighborhood theater was also the site of John Dillinger's death in 1934. This theater still has most of its original structure, such as a free-standing ticket booth, storefront lobby, and recessed entry. It is a great place to see a movie if you want that old-fashioned feel.

Answer: Lincoln Park

This 1,208 acre park began as a small cemetery in the 1850's. After various public requests to turn the cemetery into parkland and eventually to remove the cemetery entirely, Lincoln Park has grown into a wonderful place to visit. It stretches from the northern border of Chicago and extends down the lake front until it reaches downtown.

This park houses the Lincoln Park Zoo, a golf course, skeet range, ice skating, biking/running trails, and even a dog park to name a few of its attractions.

Answer: Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain and Garden

Built in 1927, this fountain sits in the premier location on the lakefront. Built within walking distance to the Loop, the Museum Campus, and the Art Institute, the Buckingham Fountain is the site for many lunches and picnics and in the summer marks a key location to meet lost friends and relatives during the Taste of Chicago. It is known for its fantastic display of water and light.

I also need to thank http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/home.do for a lot of information a links to some of the information I have included in this quiz.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of some of the more fascinating sites to visit in Chicago.