Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

THE HIST OR Y OF CHIC A GO  21

after his re-election as mayor in 1987.
Richard M. Daley, son of former mayor
Richard J. Daley, was Chicago’s longest
serving mayor (1989–2011). In 2011,
Rahm Emanuel was elected mayor.

Chicago Today
In 1990, Chicago’s title of “Second City”
became an honorific, as the population
Richard J. Daley, mayor of Chicago for 21 years of Los Angeles surpassed that of Chicago
to become the second largest in the
The 1950s saw many milestones: Carl US. Chicago remains the US’s largest
Sandburg won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in transportation center and the financial
1951; and Ray Kroc’s first McDonald’s opened capital of the Midwest. Chicago Board of
in 1955 in Des Plaines, just outside Chicago. Trade, founded in 1848, continues to be the
most important grain market in the nation.
Turbulent Politics Willis Tower (see p44) captured the title of
In 1955, Chicago elected Democrat Richard World’s Tallest Building in 1997. The Chicago
J. Daley as mayor, a position he held until Bulls won six NBA champion ships. In 2004,
his fatal heart attack in 1976. In 1966, Martin Millennium Park opened as Chicago’s “front
Luther King Jr. brought the civil rights yard,” serving as Mayor Richard J. Daley’s
movement to Chicago, challenging Daley’s multi-million dollar legacy.
political machine and the segregation of Chicago has had its share of disasters.
the Black population. Daley’s administration In 1992, the Chicago River poured
survived the West Side riots, prompted by into a hole in a tunnel in the Loop. Water
the assassination of King in Memphis, and filled downtown
the confrontations between police and basements, threat-
demonstrators outside the Democratic ening to sink
National Convention, both in 1968. the city center
Daley was equally well known for his below the level
commitment to a clean city. of the original
Daley’s successors include Jane Byrne, swampland.
Chicago’s first female mayor (1979–83), Today, Chicago
and Harold Washington, Chicago’s first has a lot to offer,
Black mayor (1983–7), called “the people’s with superb
mayor” because he was in touch with the public art and
grassroots. Washington made significant architecture, and
structural changes in city operations before an impressive Willis Tower, one of the iconic
dying of a heart attack at his desk, shortly cultural scene. sights of Chicago

1979 Jane Byrne elected 2004 Millennium Park
mayor of Chicago 2008 Chicago resident
1971 Union Stock opens (see p55)
Yards close 1986 Refurbished Barack Obama becomes
Chicago Theatre US president
reopens (see p56)
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
1973 Willis 1983 Harold 2015 Chicago Blackhawks
Tower (see Washington 1992 Chicago River leaks win Stanley Cup for the
p44) opens elected mayor into abandoned freight 2005 White third time in six seasons
as tallest of Chicago tunnel, threatening to Sox win the
building in collapse downtown World Series 2011 Rahm Emanuel takes
world Willis Tower office as mayor

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