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Why Are There So Many Irish Pubs In Chicago?
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…
2 years, 2 months ago
Why Is The Only North American Baháʼí Temple In Wilmette?
The huge, gleaming Baháʼí House of Worship for North America definitely stands out from its suburban lakefront surroundings. It’s the oldest Baháʼí t…
2 years, 2 months ago
Reflecting On More Than 10 Years Of Curious City
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 les…
2 years, 2 months ago
What’s The Oldest Book In Circulation At The Chicago Public Library?
We go searching for the oldest book in circulation at the library, and find out how a title avoids the book “weeding” process.
2 years, 3 months ago
The Underground Railroad Existed Throughout Illinois, Including In Chicago
It's difficult to find records of Underground Railroad activity in Chicago because the work was inherently dangerous. But some historical documents o…
2 years, 3 months ago
Did Dinosaurs Ever Live In Chicago?
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’…
2 years, 3 months ago
What Happened To Chicago’s Native American Neighborhood?
Chicago has enclaves for numerous communities throughout its 77 neighborhoods. In the mid-20th century, Uptown was the nucleus for Native Americans w…
2 years, 3 months ago
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery: History, Hauntings, and Preservation
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 spoo…
2 years, 4 months ago
The Curious Case Of The Swami Vivekananda Way Street Sign
Kids in India learn about Swami Vivekananda like kids in the U.S. learn about Abraham Lincoln. So how is it that he has his own honorary Chicago stre…
2 years, 4 months ago
Is This Your Card? A Brief History Of Chicago-style Magic
Chicago-style magic is close up, funny and usually performed at a bar or restaurant. We learn about its history and talk to several magicians who are…
2 years, 4 months ago