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Chicago History Podcast

From theater, music, sports, and architecture to true crime, disasters and the people behind it all, we discuss Chicago history and learn a little bit more about the greatest city in the world.

Recent Episodes

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Captain Santa and the Christmas Tree Ship

Dec. 2, 2023

A holiday-themed episode from 2020. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a familiar sight near the river at Clark Street was the Rouse Simmons, also known as The Christmas Tree Ship, and its captain Herman Schuenemann, who bec…

Episode 702 - Most Beautiful Places in Chicago, The with Geoffrey Baer

Nov. 25, 2023

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 o…

FROM THE ARCHIVES - CTA Derailment of 1977, The

Nov. 18, 2023

With the recent crash of a Yellow Line L train into a snow removal machine (?), it seems like a good time to repost this episode. In the 1970s, one of the most horrifying transportation accidents in Chicago happened downtown…

FROM THE ARCHIVES - The Teepee at Wrigley Field: Native American Protests in Chicago in the 1970s

Nov. 11, 2023

In May of 1970, those driving past Wrigley Field were greeted with an unusual sight – a Native American teepee, surrounded by smaller tents and groups of people. This was just the beginning of the Native American protests in…

Episode 701 - Chicago's Ghoulish Past, Part 3 - Women Who Poison

Oct. 28, 2023

Women and poison. Chicago's history is thick with these killers. Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lowe…

Chicago Connections - Lincoln Perry aka Stepin Fetchin

Oct. 14, 2023

He was an African American performer who went from humble beginnings to become a huge movie star based on a single character, but soon his Hollywood standing, his personal fortunes, and his acceptance by fellow Blacks collap…

Recent Blog Posts

Episode 611 - Frances Glessner Lee, The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, and Crime Scene Investigation

You can view a full-sized model of Frances Glessner Lee's "Dark Bathroom" nutshell for free on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00am to 4:00pm through Friday, April 14, 2023 at Glessner House. Details here: https://www.glessnerhouse.org/ For more abou…

Episode 608 - Sundown Towns of Chicago

Honestly, I have enough to do a second and possibly a third episode addressing the many areas in and around Chicago that tried their hardest (and often succeeded) in keeping Black American families from settling there. Here's more from my guest host…

New Episodes Coming Soon!

I neglected to mention at the end of season five of the Chicago History Podcast that I would be taking a little break. The good news is I'll be back soon with new stories about the Greatest City in The World. Thanks for listening, for your support,…