Fun Fact Friday: Chicago Auto Show

February 10, 2012 11:31 am CT

This weekend, thousands of gear heads, families and Midwesterners eager to check out what’s new in the automotive world will make their way to McCormick Place for the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The largest auto show in North America, the Chicago Auto Show has been around for 104 years, with a brief hiatus during World War II, making it the longest running auto exhibition on the continent.

Chicago’s first auto show, the National Automobile Exhibition, was held in 1901 and hosted 65 different manufacturers displaying their new vehicles. Attendees were able to test drive the cars on a test track which wrapped around the displays. The 1901 Exhibition helped to dispel consumer concerns about motor vehicles and proved first-hand that motor vehicles were safe and easy to handle.

Like the vehicles and their technologies, the Chicago Auto Show has evolved greatly over the years. Check out our recent post to get a sneak preview of some of the vehicles General Motors will have on hand at this year’s show.

Are you planning on attending this year’s show? Let us know in the comments section, and follow all the action on Twitter by following @DrivingMidwest and the #CAS hashtag.