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Palaces of the Midwest: Chicago's Great Hotels

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Determined to dispel East Coast notions of Chicago being a smelly, backwater town of the Midwest, certain wealthy Chicagoans set out to create lavish hotels that distinguished guests from around the world would flock to come marvel at the city's accomplishments. These palaces and the lifestyles they promoted sharply contrasted with the quotidien lives of the city's immigrant working classes. Nonetheless, their luxurious architecture and notoriety promoted Chicago as a worthy tourist destination, truly earning it the name "Paris of the Midwest."

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