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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

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Baby Face Nelson and The Battle of Barrington
July 4, 2025

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Baby Face Nelson and The Battle of Barrington

Send us a text In what was then primarily farmlands 39 miles outside of Chicago, a gun battle erupted between federal law enforcement agents and an outlaw on the run, resulting in chaos and death. This is the story of Baby Face Nelson and The Battle of Barrington. Show some love for the podcast for…
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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Herrin Coal Massacre, The
June 20, 2025

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Herrin Coal Massacre, The

Send us a text The 103th anniversary of the most violent labor battle in the U.S. is June 21-22, 2025. This is the story of the Herrin Coal Massacre of 1922. *Originally released as episode 508 in June 2022. Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production c…
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Episode 809 - Chicago's Fine Arts Building with author Keir Graff
June 6, 2025

Episode 809 - Chicago's Fine Arts Building with author Keir Graff

Send us a text It is a Chicago Landmark called an “exemplification of the cultural, economic, social, and historical heritage of the City of Chicago.” With the help of author Keir Graff, today we’re discussing Chicago’s Fine Arts Building. Chicago's Fine Arts Building: Music, Magic, and Murder by K…
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Episode 808 - The Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Brickyards
May 23, 2025

Episode 808 - The Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Brickyards

Send us a text Chicago is known for industry – stockyards, steel mills, and more, but this city had another that thrived for nearly 150 years. Today we’re discussing the Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Brickyards. Get out and see the city with Will Quam on a Brick of Chicago tour! Show your love of this…
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Episode 807 - Chicago's Buckingham Fountain and Queen Elizabeth II's 1959 Visit
May 9, 2025

Episode 807 - Chicago's Buckingham Fountain and Queen Elizabeth II's 1959 Visit

Send us a text Chicago's Buckingham Fountain is being turned on for the season on Saturday, May 10, 2025, so this seems like the perfect time to discuss the history of how the fountain came to be in this enhanced and re-recorded version, with an all-new section about Queen Elizabeth II's historic 1…
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Episode 806 - Don't Go with authors Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan
May 2, 2025

Episode 806 - Don't Go with authors Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan

Send us a text Discussing their book "Don't Go: Stories of Segregation and How To Disrupt It" are authors Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan. Folded Map Project: https://www.foldedmapproject.com/ Show your love of this pod...
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Recent Blog Posts

Episode 611 - Frances Glessner Lee, The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, and Crime Scene Investigation
March 19, 2023

Episode 611 - Frances Glessner Lee, The Nutshell Studies of Unexplain…

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…

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Episode 608 - Sundown Towns of Chicago
Feb. 18, 2023

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…

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New Episodes Coming Soon!
Nov. 24, 2022

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,…

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Reviews

Great and often unknown Chicago Stories

"This is a wonderful collection of Chicago history, well presented and produced. I just started listening and am happy to have many episodes to explore."

squirehogg | Sept. 5, 2024

CHP

"Great insight and format, very informative and still interesting stories. And that Mr. Henry, quite the sexy voice."

Smkt747 | Feb. 7, 2025
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