Illinois is a midwestern state bordering Indiana in the east and the Mississippi River in the west. Nicknamed “the Prairie State,” it’s marked by farmland, forests, rolling hills and wetlands. Chicago, one of the largest cities in the U.S, is in the northeast on the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s famous for its skyscrapers, such as sleek, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower.
Illinois was an important manufacturing center during both world wars. The Great Migration from the South established a large community of African Americans in the state, including Chicago, who founded the city’s famous jazz and blues cultures. Chicago, the center of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, is recognized as a global city. Chicagoland, Chicago’s metropolitan area, encompasses about 65% of the state’s population. The most populous metropolitan areas outside the Chicago area include, Metro East (of Greater St. Louis), Peoria and Rockford.
Capital: Springfield, IL
Population: 12,812,508 (2020)
Official Website: https://www.illinois.gov/
Tourism website: https://www.enjoyillinois.com/ or https://www.choosechicago.com/
Tourist Attractions for Illinois:
Illinois is a great destination in summer, but the state’s extensive cultural attractions and great shopping make it a fun place to visit any time of year.
Chicago is the state’s most popular destination, drawing travelers from across America and around the world. This is where you’ll find some of the state’s best retail options, restaurants, museums, and cultural venues. The city is also home to some fantastic buildings designed by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan.
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- Willis Tower Skydeck
- Millennium Park & Cloud Gate
- Magnificent Mile in Chicago
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
- Navy Pier
- Lincoln Park
- Anderson Japanese Gardens
- Starved Rock State Park
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dana-Thomas House, Springfield
- Ulysses S. Grant Home Historic Site in Galena