What does Chicago do to its river every year for St. Patrick's Day?

Fills it with floating lanterns

Chicago Quiz: Skyscrapers, Deep-Dish and the Bean in the USA

This Chicago quiz explores the Windy City on Lake Michigan in the USA, with questions on the Great Chicago Fire and Mrs. O'Leary's cow, Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, the river dyed green on St. Patrick's Day, the river that flows backward, the first skyscraper, deep-dish pizza, the first Ferris wheel, Sue the T. rex, Chicago-style hot dogs and the Loop. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Fires
According to legend, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was started by what?
Art
Cloud Gate, the shiny sculpture in Millennium Park, is better known by what nickname?
Traditions
What does Chicago do to its river every year for St. Patrick's Day?
Engineering
In 1900, engineers did what to the Chicago River to protect the city's drinking water?
Architecture
The Home Insurance Building, completed in Chicago in 1885, is often called the world's first what?
Pizza
Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is said to have been created at which restaurant in 1943?
Fairs
Which famous invention made its debut at Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition in 1893?
Fossils
Sue, displayed at Chicago's Field Museum, is one of the most complete skeletons of what?
Food
Which topping is traditionally never put on a Chicago-style hot dog?
Trains
Chicago's downtown is named after the loop formed by which transport system?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: According to legend, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was started by what?
Answer: A cow kicking over a lantern
Mrs. O'Leary's cow was blamed, but she was later cleared. The fire destroyed much of the city, which was rebuilt with bold new architecture.
Q2: Cloud Gate, the shiny sculpture in Millennium Park, is better known by what nickname?
Answer: The Bean
Artist Anish Kapoor made it from 168 stainless steel plates welded together. It reflects the skyline and visitors.
Q3: What does Chicago do to its river every year for St. Patrick's Day?
Answer: Dyes it bright green
The tradition began in 1962. The dye is said to be a vegetable-based powder that turns from orange to green when it hits the water.
Q4: In 1900, engineers did what to the Chicago River to protect the city's drinking water?
Answer: Reversed its flow
The river once carried sewage into Lake Michigan, the source of the city's water. A canal was built so it flows away from the lake.
Q5: The Home Insurance Building, completed in Chicago in 1885, is often called the world's first what?
Answer: Skyscraper
Its steel frame carried the building's weight, allowing taller structures. It was 10 stories high and was demolished in 1931.
Q6: Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is said to have been created at which restaurant in 1943?
Answer: Pizzeria Uno
The pizza is baked in a deep pan with cheese under a layer of chunky tomato sauce. It is usually eaten with a knife and fork.
Q7: Which famous invention made its debut at Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition in 1893?
Answer: The Ferris wheel
George Ferris built it as America's answer to the Eiffel Tower. It was about 80 meters tall and carried more than 2,000 riders at a time.
Q8: Sue, displayed at Chicago's Field Museum, is one of the most complete skeletons of what?
Answer: A Tyrannosaurus rex
Sue is about 12 meters long and 67 million years old. The skeleton is named after Sue Hendrickson, who found it in South Dakota in 1990.
Q9: Which topping is traditionally never put on a Chicago-style hot dog?
Answer: Ketchup
The hot dog comes with mustard, onions, relish, tomato, a pickle, peppers and celery salt on a poppy-seed bun. Locals call it dragged through the garden.
Q10: Chicago's downtown is named after the loop formed by which transport system?
Answer: The elevated L trains
The elevated tracks circle the central business district, called the Loop. Trains rumble above the streets between the skyscrapers.

Chicago Quiz – America's Windy City

Chicago is the third-largest city in the USA and the biggest city in the Midwest. Set on the shore of Lake Michigan in Illinois, it is famous for its skyscrapers, architecture, museums, blues and jazz, sports teams and food. Its nickname, the Windy City, may come from its breezes or from its boastful politicians of the 19th century.

Chicago grew rapidly in the 1800s as a hub for railroads, shipping and meatpacking. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of the city. Architects rebuilt it with bold designs, and in 1885 the Home Insurance Building became known as the first skyscraper. In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition introduced the Ferris wheel.

Today, the skyline includes the Willis Tower, once the tallest building in the world, and many architectural landmarks best seen from boat tours on the Chicago River. The river itself was reversed in 1900 and is dyed green every St. Patrick's Day. Millennium Park, with Cloud Gate, is a favorite gathering place.

Chicago has world-class museums, such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum, home to Sue the T. rex. Navy Pier, the Lincoln Park Zoo and lakefront beaches attract visitors.

Food lovers try deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches. Sports fans cheer for the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Bears.

Chicago's winters are cold and snowy, with icy winds off the lake, while summers bring music festivals such as Lollapalooza and outdoor concerts. The city's elevated L trains, known as the L, have rumbled through neighborhoods since the 1890s.

This quiz covers the history, architecture, traditions and food of Chicago.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for travelers, architecture fans and food lovers.

The Great Chicago Fire
Cloud Gate and the green Chicago River
Why the Chicago River flows backward
The first skyscraper and the first Ferris wheel
Sue the T. rex at the Field Museum
Deep-dish pizza, hot dogs and the Loop

Quick Facts About Chicago

Chicago has around 40 kilometers of lakefront paths and beaches.
The Art Institute of Chicago holds Grant Wood's American Gothic.
O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world.
The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016 after 108 years.
The city has a famous comedy club called The Second City.
Twinkies were invented near Chicago in 1930.