Curious City

Latest Episodes:

Did City Officials Know About The Manhattan Project’s Work In Chicago? Jun 16, 2019

Show notes

A key experiment in the development of the atom bomb was hidden in plain sight on University of Chicago’s campus. Who was in on the secret?

Here's Harold! (The Robot Edition) Jun 09, 2019

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The DuSable Museum says — creepy or not — its Harold Washington robot will teach you a thing or two about the city’s first African-American mayor.

How Is Chicago Doing On Its Ambitious 2020 Climate Goals? Jun 02, 2019

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Back in 2008, Mayor Richard M. Daley’s plan to make Chicago “the greenest city in America” by 2020 made national news. How’s that going?

Caps On Or Off? Pizza Boxes OK? Answers To 10 Common Chicago Recycling Questions May 26, 2019

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Think you know all the recycling rules? Think again. Check out this quick guide to some common dos and don’ts of Chicago recycling.

From Vienna Beef To PBR: Five Food And Drink Legacies Of The 1893 World's Fair May 19, 2019

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Lots of items in your local grocery aisle claim to have been at the 1893 World's Fair. We piece together these savory origin stories.

How Chicago Women Created The World’s First Juvenile Justice System May 12, 2019

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The U.S. legal system treated children the same as adults until the late 19th century, when a group of Chicago women demanded change.

Chicago’s Tornado-Proof Delusion May 05, 2019

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Yes, tornadoes can hit Chicago. Why do so many people think otherwise?

How My Grandparents Helped Shape Chicago’s Blues Industry Apr 28, 2019

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Like millions of black Southerners during the Great Migration, they sought greater freedom and opportunity. They found it in the blues.

It’s Complicated: The University Of Chicago’s Relationship With Its Neighbors Apr 21, 2019

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Community activists and a university representative reflect on why the relationship has been difficult in the past and where it stands now.

Stories Behind CTA ‘L’ Lines’ Strange Curves, Dips and Twists Apr 14, 2019

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Here’s who and what to blame if you spill your coffee on your commute.