• View of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skylinechicago sky image by SKYDIVECOP from Fotolia.com
  
  Chicago, Illinois, offers a rich history like the great fire of 1871, a fascinating political landscape, and its reputation as a hotbed for gangsters in the 1920s. Today the city boasts almost 3 million residents and is a tourist atttraction due, in part, to sights like the Navy Pier, Wrigley Field, Grant Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. Tourists can find a handful of truly historic hotels situated throughout the city.
  
  

Congress Plaza Hotel

• Situated on Michigan Avenue near the city's famed Grant Park, the Congress Plaza Hotel dates all the way back to 1893. Nicknamed the "Home of Presidents," the hotel has catered to such leaders as Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. The hotel features 850 standard guest rooms, in addition to 36 Lakefront suites. All of the rooms include hair dryers and coffee makers. The hotel also plays host to the Gazebo Restaurant, an American cuisine eatery, and the Tavern Tap Pub, which serves up a mixture of beer, wine and specialty cocktails. An on-site gift shop, barber shop and a 24-hour fitness center reside on the premises as well.
  
  Congress Plaza Hotel
  
  520 South Michigan Ave.
  
  Chicago, IL 60605
  
  312-427-3800
  
  congressplazahotel.com
  
  

Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago

• Residing upon the Magnificent Mile, the city's famed stretch of shops and restaurants, the Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago offers access to such tourist attractions as Navy Pier, Water Tower Place and the John Hancock Tower. The hotel first opened its doors in 1927, and in 1952 it housed the Republican National Convention's California Delegation, including vice presidential nominee Richard Nixon. All of the guest rooms feature perks like a mini-bar, a flat-screen television, Wi-Fi access and bathrobes and slippers. The hotel offers both a Martini Bar and room service. Guests can reserve the on-site meeting rooms, including the Crystal Ballroom, for private and business events.
  
  Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago
  
  163 East Walton Place
  
  Chicago, IL 60611
  
  312-751-8100
  
  millenniumhotels.com
  
  

The Palmer House Hilton

• Originally opened in 1875, this historic hotel played host to such iconic figures as Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain. Today, guests of The Palmer House Hilton can easily walk to nearby sites like the Art Institute of Chicago, the Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park. All of the guest rooms include amenities like Pod docking stations, CD players, individual climate control, iron/ironing boards, hairdryers and high-end linens. Business travelers can use the hotel's business center and meeting rooms, including the Lower Exhibit Hall, the largest facility on the premises. The hotel also includes an indoor swimming pool, a fitness room and three restaurants and bars.
  
  The Palmer House Hilton
  
  17 East Monroe St.
  
  Chicago, IL 60603
  
  312-726-7500
  
  hilton.com