| Chicago, the third most populous city in the USA, is | | | | that border the Lake - Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and |
| known by a number of names, among which include | | | | Michigan. Today, the fountain is a brilliant draw for |
| "the Windy City", "Second City" and "City of Big | | | | tourists; it's turned on every April, signaling the onset |
| Shoulders". While it may possess the image of a | | | | of summer in Chicago, and remains on until early Fall. |
| bustling, busy urban center, it is possible to get away | | | | It still puts on spectacular 20-minute fountain displays |
| from the rat race yet still remain in the city. | | | | every hour between 8am and 11pm. Each display |
| Presently, Chicago possesses over 7,300 acres of | | | | involves 134 jets shooting approximately 14,100 |
| parkland which encloses 552 parks, 16 lagoons and | | | | gallons of water out per minute, with the center jet |
| Chicago's iconic Buckingham Fountain, one of the | | | | shooting 150 feet in the air. This show is |
| world's largest fountains. Located in Grant Park, the | | | | accompanied by a spectacular light and music display, |
| Buckingham Fountain was dedicated to the people of | | | | which beautifully accentuates the Georgian pink |
| Chicago in 1927, in memory of Clarence Buckingham | | | | marble structure of the attraction. The area |
| who commissioned its creation. Clarence Buckingham | | | | surrounding the Buckingham Fountain is teeming with |
| was the late brother of Kate Buckingham, who | | | | pond life, including frogs, herons and dragonflies; the |
| worked tirelessly to build a fountain which created | | | | shrubs are frequently filled with migratory birds and |
| the effect of "soft moonlight"; she tested a variety | | | | the lush prairie region is graced with wildflowers and |
| of colors for glass filters and various water currents | | | | grasses native to the area. The Park District of |
| in order to bestow a mystical, ethereal feel upon the | | | | Chicago is clearly a wonderful place to visit if you're |
| Buckingham Fountain. While the fountain was named | | | | staying in the city, and is located within easy distance |
| after Clarence Buckingham, it was originally designed | | | | from Chicago's other main attractions such as the |
| by Edward H. Bennett, who modeled his design on | | | | Sears tower and the Merchandise Mart Mall. There |
| the Latona Fountain in King Louis XIV's gardens at | | | | are a selection of great hotels nearby, in which you |
| the Palace of Versailles. Bennett intended the fountain | | | | can stay and be able to take in Chicago's peaceful |
| to represent Lake Michigan, with four sea horses | | | | park district whilst enjoying the luxuries of the big |
| created by Marcel Loyau to signify the four states | | | | city, including the world-famous luxury Conrad Hotel. |