Chicago only U.S. city nominated as one of the “seven wonders of the world”

Chicago, the so-called “Second City,” is No. 1 by one measure: It’s the only U.S. city nominated in a competition to become one of the “seven wonders of the world” in the city category by New 7 Wonders.
The organization announced its 28 finalists for the honor on Oct. 21. The group will be winnowed down to 21 on July 7, 14 on Oct. 7 and the official “seven wonders” on Dec. 7, 2014.
The Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation previously selected new “seven wonders” of the world for man-made structures and nature. The cities category is its third competition.
The cities competition started last year with more than 1,200 nominees in over 220 countries. That was cut to more than 300 earlier this month, then to 77 and the current 28. A panel of seven experts trimmed the nominees after online voting in the qualification phase finished.
The 28 finalists are Athens, Greece; Bangkok, Thailand; Barcelona, Spain; Beirut, Lebanon; Casablanca, Morocco; Chicago, U.S.A.; Doha, Qatar; Durban, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Istanbul, Turkey; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kyoto, Japan; La Paz, Bolivia; London, United Kingdom; Mendoza, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Mumbai, India; Perth, Australia; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Prague, the Czech Republic; Quito, Ecuador; Reykjavik, Iceland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Seoul, South Korea; Shenzhen, China; Vancouver, Canada, and Vigan, the Philippines.
You can vote for your seven favorites among the finalists online at the New 7 Wonders Cities website.
I voted for Chicago, London, Barcelona, Casablanca, Seoul, Kyoto and Mexico City.
Chicago deserves to be named one of the municipal wonders of the world. It’s a beautiful city with a rich history, amazing architecture, great parks and culture. I have a soft spot for Chi-town because I grew up in the north suburbs of the great city.
In 2005, the Chicago Tribune conducted a poll to determine the Seven Wonders of Chicago.
They are:

1. The Lakefront 
2. Wrigley Field 
3. The “L” 
4. The Sears Tower (now renamed the Willis Tower) 
5. The Water Tower 
6. The University of Chicago 
7. The Museum of Science and Industry 

Other nominees included the Chicago River, Millennium Park, Chicago blues, the Chicago hot dog, the Chicago theater scene, and Lower Wacker Drive.
For a primer on Chicago, check out Wikipedia.

Photo: Chicago skyline from New 7 Wonders website.