Curious City

Latest Episodes:

Did Soccer Have A Golden Age In Chicago? Jul 25, 2024

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Soccer is popular in Chicago, but it falls behind the popularity of sports like football, baseball and basketball. But in the 1920s, the popularity of soccer rivaled that of baseball.

What's Up With All The Fake Lakes? Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

Cook County has a lot of artificial lakes. Many of them were once large pits left behind by major construction projects. Now, they serve as habitats for wildlife and recreation for residents.

Why Are There So Many Irish Pubs In Chicago? Jul 11, 2024

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Many Irish immigrants settled in Chicago in the late 1800s, and opened up pubs to make a living, but for a sense of community. We explore the history and why there are so many Irish pubs today.

Why Is The Only North American Baháʼí Temple In Wilmette? Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

The huge, gleaming Baháʼí House of Worship for North America definitely stands out from its suburban lakefront surroundings. It’s the oldest Baháʼí temple in the world, and it’s also known as the holiest. But why is it in Wilmette, Illinois?

Reflecting On More Than 10 Years Of Curious City Jun 20, 2024

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As Curious City goes through some changes, we take some time to look back and reflect on more than a decade of answering listeners' questions and lessons learned over the years.

What’s The Oldest Book In Circulation At The Chicago Public Library? Jun 13, 2024

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We go searching for the oldest book in circulation at the library, and find out how a title avoids the book “weeding” process.

The Underground Railroad Existed Throughout Illinois, Including In Chicago Jun 06, 2024

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It's difficult to find records of Underground Railroad activity in Chicago because the work was inherently dangerous. But some historical documents offer a glimpse.

Did Dinosaurs Ever Live In Chicago? May 30, 2024

Show notes

We went digging for dinosaur bones in Chicago and found a bunch of other fossils along the way. We explore the region's prehistoric activity, and we’ll hear about that one time a federal judge found a mastodon in his yard.

What Happened To Chicago’s Native American Neighborhood? May 23, 2024

Show notes

Chicago has enclaves for numerous communities throughout its 77 neighborhoods. In the mid-20th century, Uptown was the nucleus for Native Americans who relocated to the city. Learn how Uptown became a cultural hub and what happened to that enclave.

Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery: History, Hauntings, and Preservation May 16, 2024

Show notes

Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Midlothian is rumored to be haunted with alleged sightings of a woman in white. But there’s more to this place than spooky stories. Learn about the early settlers who called this place home and why a historian worries the ghost stories are overshadowing the history here.

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