By Altynbek Nazarov; Skokie, Illinois
(Photo: Altynbek Nazarov)
Even if the weather in Chicago is very cold, and the temperature can creep below -10 F, I still like this city, because I think people need cold winters in order to appreciate beautiful summers. Winters in Chicago are beautiful too, and there are many interesting activities to enjoy during this season. In particular, Chicago has one of the most beautiful outdoor ice skating rinks in America – the Maggie Daley Park ice skating ribbon. Opened to the public on December 13, 2014, this rink extends for one-quarter mile (0.40 km) mile and has a capacity of 700 skaters. In the summer, the rink will serve as a walking path. Another key thing to remember is that the rink features changes in elevation, which give it incline and decline. Since its opening date, the rink has attracted many tourists and Chicagoans. It has a unique design and convenient location. Also because of the cold weather, winter is a good time for visiting museums. Chicago is home to museums such as the Field Museum (one of the largest natural museums in the world), Museum of Science and Industry (largest science museum in the western hemisphere), and the Chicago History Museum.
Recently I had a chance to visit the Chicago History Museum. It was founded in 1856 for the purpose of studying and showing interpretations of Chicago’s history. This museum has everything that we need to know about Chicago, and I found it very stimulating. It presented a lot of information about the Great Chicago Fire – one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th century, which destroyed much of the city’s central business district – as well as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, and the American Civil War.
