“The nation’s last great city…”
February 2nd, 2008
From The Rough Guide to the USA (page 356)“Chicago is in many ways the nation’s last great city. Sarah Bernhart called it “the pulse of America” and, though long eclipsed by Los Angeles as teh nation’s second most populous city after New York, Chicago really does have it all, with less of the hassle and infrastructure problems of its coastal rivals.
“Founded in the early 1800s, Chicago grew up with the country, serving as the main connection between the established East Coast cities and the wide-open Wild West frontier. This position on the sharp edge between civilization and wilderness made the city into a crucible of innovation. Many aspects of modern life, from skyscrapers to suburbia, had their start, and perhaps their finest expression, here on the shores of Lake Michigan.”