Chicago Loop

Welcome to the Chicago Loop, the vibrant central business district and the historical soul of the windy city. You are standing in what many consider the second largest business district in North America, second only to Midtown Manhattan in New York City. As you look around, you might wonder how this area earned its distinctive name. Local history offers two fascinating theories. Some say it refers to the cable car loops that encircled these streets as early as eighteen eighty-two, while others point to the elevated train tracks, known as the 'L,' which were completed in eighteen ninety-seven to create a circuit around the downtown core. This area is more than just a transit hub; it is the origin point for Chicago's entire grid system, starting specifically at the intersection of State and Madison Streets. Before this became a world-class financial center, it was the site of Fort Dearborn in eighteen hundred and three, but a devastating fire in October eighteen seventy-one cleared the canvas for what you see today: a playground for the world's most visionary architects. Take a deep breath and feel the energy of a city that literally rose from the ashes to redefine the modern world.