Archived Feature:
Chicago's Architecture
Chicago's architecture is world-renowned. The city burned to the ground in 1871 (remember Mrs. O'Leary's cow?), and the city took the opportunity to completely rebuild itself, becoming the birthplace of the skyscraper.
A number of firms specialize in architectural tours, whether by trolley, water taxi, or old-fashioned shoe leather. The nearby community of Oak Park was the headquarters for America's best-known architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, and over twenty of his home designs still stand there.
The Chicago Water Tower, pictured at right, is one of the very few structures which survived the 1871 fire. Today it houses a visitor center, as well as a collection of photographs by local photographers.
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