Airport Code: ORD
Location: 10000 W O’Hare Ave, Chicago, Illinois
Date Opened: February 1944 (as Orchard Field, renamed in 1949 after Medal of Honor recipient Edward “Butch” O’Hare).
Size: Over 7,200 acres, making it one of the largest airports in the U.S. It has four passenger terminals (1, 2, 3, and 5) and eight runways.
Transportation: O’Hare has ground transportation options to both McCormick Place and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Rosemont). For McCormick Place (17–18 miles) the CTA Blue Line goes downtown. Direct taxi or rideshare travel is 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. For Stephens Convention Center (2–4 miles) the CTA Blue Line is direct to Rosemont Station, just a short walk or shuttle ride to the center, with taxi or rideshare around 5 to 10 minutes.
On-Site Facilities: O’Hare features a wide range of dining options and retail shops, offers free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and charging stations throughout. There are multiple lounges, mother’s rooms, and multi-faith prayer rooms.
Fun Fact 1: O’Hare has eight runways, the most of any airport in the world. Flychicago.com, the Chicago Department of Aviation’s website, reports that O’Hare has 201 gates. That beats Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson gate total of 192 (atl.com).
Fun Fact 2: The airport houses a replica of a Brachiosaurus skeleton in Terminal 1, on loan from Chicago’s Field Museum.
Website: www.flychicago.com/ohare
This story originally appeared as a truncated version in the Q4 2025 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 46. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/exhibit_city_news_-_oct_nov_dec_2025/46.
