Chicago O’Hare Digs Up 50-Ton Boulder Under Airfield, Asks The Public For Name Ideas

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) has uncovered a 50-ton boulder buried approximately 30 feet (9 meters) beneath its airfield, turning an unexpected construction discovery into a public naming contest, according to CBS News Chicago. The rock was found during excavation work for a stormwater management facility connected to the airport’s ambitious ORDNext expansion project. After receiving nearly 3,000 public suggestions, the City of Chicago announced six finalists on October 16, 2026, and opened online voting to decide the boulder’s official name. The winning entry will eventually be displayed alongside the enormous rock in a new airport exhibit.