Videos

Connie Fairbanks, author of "Chicago's West Loop: Then and Now," joins me on this episode as co-writer and co-host as we discuss five Chicago parks named for women. Purchase Connie Fairbanks' book "Chicago's West Loop: Then and Now" from the author: https://www.conniefairbanks.com/ Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3BzEPxt Show some love for the…

A brief history of one of Chicago's most amazing women - Jane Addams, social reformer and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

She grew up in a small town in Illinois in the late 1800s and became known worldwide as an activist, reformer, and winner of a Nobel Peace Prize. This is the story of Jane Addams and Hull House. Want to help support the show? Buy Me A Coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Art…

Promotional piece for Chicago author Cynthia Pelayo's new book "Forgotten Sisters."

Local author Cynthia Pelayo's new book masterfully blends dark Chicago history and fairy-tale horrors. Listen as the author and I discuss her life growing up in Chicago and her exciting new book about two sisters and a killer dumping men into the Chicago River. cinapelayo.com YouTube version: https://youtu.be/r32m2jwrxHc Show some…

Local author Cynthia Pelayo's new book masterfully blends dark Chicago history and fairy-tale horrors. Pelayo and I discuss her life growing up in Chicago and her exciting new book about two sisters and a killer dumping men into the Chicago River. cinapelayo.com Show some love for the podcast for the…

Her last name is well known around the city, but do you know the story behind Chicago's Saint, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini? Listen and learn, Chicago history fans! Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Up your…

Three! Three! Three episodes in one! Enjoy. Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com (https://www.chicagohistorypod.com/) Up your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups! https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1k…

Jack Johnson not only became the first Black American heavyweight championship boxer but who also lived (and loved) in Chicago and opened the wildly popular Café de Champion before tragedy and the government forced its closure. Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee…

He has been called the first international African American sports superstar and in his time was the biggest star of any sport. Although he wasn’t born in Chicago, some of Marshall "Major" Taylor's most lasting accomplishments occurred here. Want to read more about "Major" Taylor? (purchasing through the links below…

Bartender, poet, musician, artist, and more. Sergio Mayora and the art of Weeds Tavern. In the Weeds: How Bartender, Poet, Musician and Artist Sergio Mayora Cultivated One of the Most Important Taverns in Chicago History by Dave Hoekstra (New City, November 2022) https://www.newcity.com/2022/11/01/in-the-weeds-how-bartender-poet-musician-and-artist-sergio-mayora-cultivated-one-of-the-most-important-taverns-in-chicago-history/ Trope Publishing: https://trope.com/ Show your support of…

Enjoy this episode originally posted in January 2021. In 1937, 87 years before the current pandemic forced kids to find ways to learn outside of the traditional classroom, Chicago school children took classes by radio while trying to stay safe from the threat of polio. Support the show for the…

Six years after the closing of the World's Fair of 1893, on 10 acres near the University of Chicago, a new outdoor entertainment venue opened called Sans Souci. Sans Souci and Midway Gardens, although all but forgotten, paved the way for outdoor entertainment for generations to come. Support the show…

A series of tragedies prompted one Chicago suburb to change the way trains travel through their city. This is the story of Connecting Winnetka to Chicago. Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone…

Just days before Christmas in 1910, a fire broke out at the stockyards in Chicago that resulted in the highest loss of life of firefighters due to a building collapse, a grim claim held for nearly 91 years before being surpassed on 9/11. Show your support of the show for…

In October 1960, Prince Akihito of Japan visited Chicago for 21 hours. Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley presented the prince with a diplomatic gift: 18 bluegill. What happened next would change the underwater world of Japan forever. Today's episode is from Points North, part of Northern Michigan's Interlochen Public Radio.…

Geoffrey Baer is back on the podcast to discuss his latest program for WTTW - The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago 2. https://interactive.wttw.com/most-beautiful-places-in-chicago Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower…

Producer Eddie Griffin and I are discussing the new season of Chicago Stories on WTTW. The new season of Chicago Stories begins September 22, 2023 at 8pm on WTTW. Watch online at wttw.com/chicagostories The entire catalog of Chicago History Podcast episodes can be found at www.chicagohistorypod.com or wherever you enjoy…

It is the 30th anniversary of one of the BEST action films shot in the Greatest City in the World, so today Kelli from Chicago Movie Tours (https://www.youtube.com/@ChicagoMovieTours) and I are talking about all things "The Fugitive" in Chicago. The train derailment scene (North Carolina): https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-fugitive-train-wreck-sylva-north-carolina Show your support of…

Special guest Mike McMains (Chicago's Tours with Mike) helps me break down the history of Chicago LGBTQ Pride Events. Enjoy! See Chicago in an all new way on a Tours with Mike tour! https://tourswithmike.com/ Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a…

Geoffrey Baer is back with a new special for WTTW. Hear about some of the stories behind the special. 0:00 - Intro 0:48 - Trailer for "The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago" 1:48 - Geoffrey Baer Welcome 2:11 - Baer as a Teacher / Docent 6:50 - Architecture of Chicago…

Today we’re talking about the Secret Mermaid of the Lakeshore, and later we’ll be talking to Christine Solorio, an urban beach comber based here in Chicago. Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory https://www.beachcombingmagazine.com/ Amazon Affiliate Links…

Some Navy Pier footage to go along with episode 425 of the podcast. Episode 425 - Navy Pier Listen here (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1022374/10485126-episode-425-navy-pier) or wherever you enjoy podcasts! Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Amazon Affiliate Links (anything…

She worked on John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, was guided through Chicago politics by "Boss" Mayor Richard J. Daley, and became the first female mayor of Chicago. Today we’re discussing Jane Byrne, whose story is part of the upcoming season of Chicago Stories on WTTW. With me to discuss Byrne…