All too often history repeats itself -- with tragic results. During the last 100-years, the killing of one person becomes symbolic and spawns a larger tragedy. Irregularly bubbling to the surface these crises rise from elemental rents and sys

Episode 28 – WWI & Chicago Transformed

Jul 6th, 2022 1h 24m

Hear from author Joe Gustaitis as we discuss how World War I transformed Chicago from a strongly German city into a modern metropolis.

Episode 27 – The Great Migration

Mar 31st, 2022 58m 10s

In American history, we were taught that pioneers and homesteaders moved from east to west settling the continent in the greater pursuit of “Manifest Destiny” -- killing and obfuscating the First Nations peoples' way of life. However, another

Episode 26 – 1909

Jan 28th, 2022 1h 29m

In 1909 Chicago changed dramatically both physically and intellectually. Having grown through fits and starts via annexation and experiencing the most rapid population growth of any city in history, to that point, the Chicago City Council appr

Episode 25 – A Book and A Beer: George Ade and the Old-Time Saloon

Oct 28th, 2021 56m 7s

The path to riches is not often associated with journalism, but in the case of George Ade, writing for Chicago newspapers was his road to wealth and fame. Ade, (1866-1944) who was born and raised in Kentland, Indiana, attended Purdue Universit

Episode 24 – Bonus: Working on the Railroad

Oct 14th, 2021 43m 27s

October is Railroad history month in Chicago. Although we already released Episode 24 - The Railroads in honor of railroads history month there was too much good stuff to stop there.

Episode 24 – The Railroads

Oct 1st, 2021

For 150 years, Chicago has remained the country's busiest rail hub at the center of the nation’s rail network. In all, 40 railroads provide services from Illinois to every part of the United States and all seven of the major North American fre

Episode 23 – Reversing the Chicago River

May 30th, 2021 1h 1m

Native Americans held great respect for natural systems while also managing the landscape to support their people and way of life. As "civilization" came to this area Chicago became a military outpost, village, city and metropolis and its resi

Episode 22 – Eyewitness to History: From the Pullman Strike to H.H. Holmes

Apr 27th, 2021 55m 54s

Looking back on historical events, whether it is the Civil War or the Chicago Fire, they are usually presented in isolation, a individual events separated by subject, pinned to a specific date or period of time. Yet, history is not nearly so n

Episode 21 – The Third Star – part III

Feb 22nd, 2021 1h 15m

As we conclude this three-part mini-series on the Columbian Exposition of 1893, we talk about a few favorite exhibits and stories about the Fair, connections that exist still, and relevancy of the World's Fair today. A major event for Chicago

Episode 20 – The Third Star – part II

Feb 22nd, 2021 1h

We continue our discussion of Chicago's first World's Fair to learn why carousels were risque, the Ferris Wheel encouraged voyeurism, Columbus was cool, and unfortunately racism was the norm. In addition, the 1893 World's Fair was a launching

Episode 19 – The Third Star – Part I

Jan 27th, 2021 1h

In 1893, Chicago is host to one of the most recognized and internationally famous world fairs, which honors the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in America. Granted it was a year later than planned, but it became known for th

Episode 18 – The Year 1893

Oct 29th, 2020 1h

For most historians if you mention Chicago and the year 1893, they will immediately think of the World's Colombian Exposition. However, there was much more going on in Chicago during that year that still resonates today. Beyond the excitement

Episode 17 – The Haymarket

Sep 28th, 2020 58m 48s

Why is May Day a holiday celebrated all over the world, but not in the United States? The answer is piece of Chicago history pointing to the events culminating at Haymarket Square on May 4th, 1886.

Episode 16 - The Second Star - the Fire

Aug 23rd, 2020 59m 44s

There is one story well-known throughout the world about the Windy City and a cow kicking over a lantern that set the Great Chicago Fire in motion. The fact that the story of Catherine O'Leary's cow is totally false seems not to matter, as thi

Episode 15: The Stockyards

Jul 30th, 2020 59m 58s

In the Spring of 2020, one of the first cracks in the American economy with Covid-19 was the closing of several meatpacking plants in the United States. The nature of the process with workers stationed in close proximity to one another, poorly

Episode 14: A Brewing City

Jun 25th, 2020 1h 9m

Chicago has a long history of brewing and distilling; of taverns, pubs, and saloons; of alcohol distribution and consumption so we hope you will soak up this episode on the history of alcohol and its impact on the city. This episode of the Win

Episode 13: Early Chicago

May 26th, 2020 55m 40s

In this episode of our “Laying the Foundation” series of the Windy City Historians we explore an often ignored and long forgotten era and complete our interview with Dr. Ann Durkin Keating. We tap into the history of Juliette Kinzie and the ci

Special Episode: Don’t Sneeze, Cough or Spit!

Apr 28th, 2020 1h 33m

The contagion began suddenly in the northern suburbs of Chicago and floated south toward the city like an invisible cloud. Soon restaurants, saloons, and theaters were closed and the police had the power to break up crowds and arrest individua

Episode 12: The First Star – part two

Feb 24th, 2020 1h 3m

Fort Dearborn at the beginning of the War of 1812 . . . is it a Battle or a Massacre? How should we, in the twenty-first century, talk about the events that occurred on Chicago's lakefront on August 15, 1812 -- a month-and-a-half after the dec

Episode 11: The First Star

Jan 31st, 2020 59m 49s

Did you realize each of the four stars on the Chicago Flag represent important dates in Chicago history? The two blue stripes on the flag have a special meaning as well. In this Episode we will discuss the events running up to the Fort Dearbo

Episode 10: The First Murder

Jan 3rd, 2020 1h 1m

Founded in 1803, Chicago's Fort Dearborn is the western most outpost on the frontier, and by 1812 still the most isolated fort in Indian Country. The garrison and few settlers are outnumbered five-to-one by the neighboring tribes within a day'

Episode 9: The First Scandal

Nov 27th, 2019 1h

Early settlement of Chicago begins, Fort Dearborn is established at this outpost in Indian Country and it gets entangled in Chicago's first scandal.

Episode 8 : The First Settler

Oct 17th, 2019 1h 6m

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines settler as, "a person who goes to live in a new place where usually there are few or no people". Native Americans have lived in the greater Chicago area for approximately 10,000 years dating back to the l