Chicago

Some of the key events about Chicago

• 1833

  The Town of Chicago was incorporated with a population of 350 people
• 1848

  The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened, connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system
• 1871

  The Great Chicago Fire led to innovative urban planning and architectural advancements
• 1871

  The Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of the city, leaving 100,000 residents homeless.
• 1893

  The World's Columbian Exposition showcased Chicago's recovery and introduced several technological innovations
• 1900

  The city completed the engineering feat of reversing the flow of the Chicago River for sanitation purposes
• 1903

  The Iroquois Theater Fire killed over 600 people, becoming the deadliest single-building fire in U.S. history.
• 1915

  The SS Eastland disaster occurred when a passenger ship capsized in the Chicago River, killing 844 people.
• 1919

  The Chicago Race Riot resulted in 38 deaths and over 500 injuries, highlighting racial tensions in the city.
• 1929

  The St. Valentine's Day Massacre saw seven men brutally murdered, epitomizing Chicago's gang violence during Prohibition.
• 1942

  The world's first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was achieved at the University of Chicago
• 1955

  The first McDonald's franchise restaurant opened in Des Plaines, a suburb of Chicago
• 1966

  The Summerdale police scandal exposed widespread corruption within the Chicago Police Department.
• 1968

  Violent clashes erupted between police and protesters during the Democratic National Convention.
• 1974

  The Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) was completed, becoming the world's tallest building at the time
• 1974

  A major fire at the Gately's People's Store killed 29 people and injured many others.
• 1979

  American Airlines Flight 191 crashed shortly after takeoff from O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 people on board.
• 1995

  Chicago experienced an extreme heat wave that led to improved emergency response systems
• 1995

  A severe heat wave resulted in over 700 heat-related deaths in the city.
• 2004

  Millennium Park opened, featuring iconic public art and architecture

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.