Chicago – Day 2

March 2016

We started our first full day in Chicago by venturing out into the rain and even some spring snow to spend the morning at the Chicago History Museum. It was fun to learn about the city's history as we began our week there. After a snowy walk back from the museum we went to Giordano's for an incredible deep dish pizza. We then headed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to visit the Money Museum. I find the history of US currency fascinating but even if you don't, standing next to a million one dollar bills is a unique experience in itself. Our day wrapped up with a very long and relaxing dinner at Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse in River North with our cousin Janet who we rarely get a chance to see so it was a ton of fun catching up with her.

2-001 Dearborn Street Bridge
The Dearborn Street Bridge as seen from our room at theWit
2-003 Jeweler's Building
The Jeweler's Building
2-004 L Train
Getting around the city on Chicago’s iconic L trains
2-005 Gas Sign
Clearly this is the Chicago History Museum. No Gas for Less in modern times!
2-006 Daily News Wagon
Chicago Daily News wagon at the Chicago HIstory Museum
2-007 Civil War Surrender Table
Robert E Lee surrendered to Ulysses S Grant while sitting at this table, thus ending the Civil War
2-009 Phone Booth
Yup, a telephone booth is now a piece of bygone history
2-011 Chandelier
Chandelier from the Lincoln section of the museum
2-012 Great Fire Diorama
This very cool diarama depicts Chicago’s Great Fire
2-014 Pullman Porter Cap
Pullman porter cap from the days of cross-country travel aboard Pullman train cars
2-015 Bush Japanese Internment Apology
Letter of apology from George HW Bush for Japanese Internment during World War II
2-016 Japanese Internment Camp Barbed Wire
Barbed wire from a Japanese Internment Camp in Wyoming
2-017 Japanese Internment Shell Pins
Pins made of shells crafted by prisoners in a Japanese Internment Camp
2-020 Oscar Mayer Display
Oscar Mayer display
2-021 First L Car
The first Chicago L car
2-022 First L Car Interior
Inside the first Chicago L car. Much different than today!
2-023 First L Car
At the station with the first Chicago L car
2-024 First L Car Statues
These fancy folks are ready to board the first Chicago L car
2-025 Mail Order Catalog Display
Chicago was once the mail order capital of the country
2-026 Marshall Field Quote
Marshall Field built a business on giving the lady what she wants
2-028 Great Fire Painting
There aren’t many photos of the Great Chicago Fire. This painting depicts it pretty well, however.
2-030 Giordano's
Our first sample of true Chicago deep dish pizza was at Giordano’s.
2-031 Giordano's Sign
Our first sample of true Chicago deep dish pizza was at Giordano’s.
2-032 Giordano's Lamp
Our first sample of true Chicago deep dish pizza was at Giordano’s.
2-033 Giordano's Pizza
Our first sample of true Chicago deep dish pizza was at Giordano’s.
2-034 Giordano's Pizza Slice
Carbs and cholesterol don’t matter when pizza looks as good as Giordano’s deep dish pizza!
2-037 Federal Reserve Sign
Visiting the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
2-038 $10 Demand Note
$10 demand note from 1961, the beginning of green US currency
2-039 $10,000 Federal Reserve Note
$10,000 bill
2-042 Hawaii $1 Note
$1 bill printed for use in Hawaii during World War II
2-043 Mom in $2 Bill
My mother trying her face out on a $2 bill
2-044 Mom in $100 Bill
My mother decided she’d rather be on a $100 bill
2-045 1901 $10 Note
The 1901 $10 bill featured Lewis and Clark plus a buffalo
2-047 $1 Million in $1 Bills
This cube contains a million dollars in $1 bills
2-051 $1 Million in $20 Bills
This is what a million dollars in $20 bills looks like
2-053 $50,800 in Coins
This floor is filled with $50,800 in coins
2-054 Chicago Fed Exterior
Outside the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
2-055 Chicago Board of Trade
The Chicago Board of Trade Building
2-056 Chicago Board of Trade
The Chicago Board of Trade Building
2-057 Flamingo Sculpture
You wouldn’t know if by looking at it but this statue represents a flamingo
2-058 State & Lake L Sign
The L station at State & Lake was our starting point to seeing the city
2-059 Chicago River & Marina City
It might be hard to tell, but that’s snow falling outside our window
2-061 Mom & Janet
My mother with our cousin Janet, who lives in Chicagoland, at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse
2-062 Mom, Janet & Michael
My mother and me with our cousin, Janet, who lives in Chicagoland
2-063 Holy Cow
Holy cow, it’s the holy cow at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in River North
2-064 Harry Caray Bust
The famous bust of the famous Harry Caray in the lobby of at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse
2-065 Bleacher Seats
Bleachers in the lobby at Harry Caray’s
2-066 Michael, Mom & Harry Caray Bust
You can’t come to Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse and not pose with Harry himself
2-067 Janet & Harry Caray Bust
You can’t come to Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse and not pose with Harry himself
2-068 Wrigley Building
The Wrigley Building
2-069 Harry Caray Mural
Mural of Harry outside Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in River North
2-071 330 N Wabash & Trump Tower
330 N Wabash & Trump Tower under cloudy skies
2-073 Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower & Intercontinental
River North buildings including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower & the Intercontinental Hotel
2-075 Wit Chandelier
The massive angel wing chandeliers hang in the lobby of our hotel, theWit
2-081 Chicago River & Marina City
Marina City is just across the Chicago River from our hotel
2-082 L Station
Our room at theWit overlooks the State & Lake L station from 23 stories up