Chicago History Podcast

Mar 28 2025 228 ep. 24 mins 280

Chicago History Podcast artwork

Stories from history of the Greatest City in the World - Chicago. The places, events, and the people behind it all.

History Society & Culture True Crime

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Episode 805 - Five Pioneering Women of Chicago

Mar 28 2025 38 mins

Send us a text It is Women's History Month! Here's a look at five pioneering women in Chicago's history: Chicago founder Kitihawa du Sable, women's suffrage activist Grace Wilbur Trout, Vivian Gordon Harsh, Chicago's first Black librarian, Union activist Rev. Addie L. Wyatt, and Elisabeth A. Martini, Chicago's first woman architect. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Police Chief Francis O'Neill, Chicago's Savior of Irish Music

Mar 14 2025 22 mins

Send us a text Just in time for St. Patrick's Day 2025, here's a little history about Chicago's connection to preserving Irish music, originally posted in March of 2022. He served as a Chicago policeman for more than 32 years and was Chicago’s chief of police for four, but Francis O’Neill is probably better known for his efforts in preserving the music of his homeland. Today we

Episode 804 - Chicago Crime: The Automatic Trio and the Car Barn Murders

Feb 28 2025 24 mins

Send us a text Originally released in September of 2021, this episode has been enhanced with additional music and sound effects. Sixteen years before Al Capone came to Chicago and long before anyone could blame violence on video games, three boys just out of their teens became robbers and worse in Chicago with brazen acts of thievery and wanton killings. Today we’re discussing th

Episode 803 - Illinois' Underground Railroad

Feb 21 2025 45 mins

Send us a text For Black Americans seeking to escape enslavement in the first half of the 1800s, Chicago was often an important stop on their path to freedom. Today we’re discussing the Underground Railroad in Illinois. Network to Freedom Listings: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/undergroundrailroad/ntf-listings.htm Graceland Cemetery (Chicago) Underground Railroad Activists https:/

Episode 802 - Chicago Connections: The Jackson Five

Feb 15 2025 48 mins

Send us a text While not from here, their connection to this city is undeniable and Chicago’s influence most certainly contributed to their rise as one of the most successful musical acts of all time. Today we’re talking about the Jackson Five. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Further reading (purchasing these

Episode 801 - Unchecked Graft: Chicago Mayor William "Big Bill" Thompson

Feb 07 2025 35 mins

Send us a text This is a revised, expanded, and re-recorded version of an episode that was originally released in 2020. William "Big Bill" Thompson was a larger-than-life character who served as Chicago mayor for three terms and is viewed as one of the most corrupt politicians this great city has ever seen. Robert Loerzel's piece on Eugene Williams in the August 2019 Chicago Magazi

Episode 725 - Chicago's Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names, Part 2

Nov 29 2024 33 mins

Send us a text An area once called Dunkley’s Grove was considered for a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox, not in old-timey days – in 1986! Was Edison Park named for Thomas Edison? Dunton, Sagone, Hartford… and where was Cleaverville? Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an email with whatever is on y

Episode 724 - Chicago Mob Stories - The Handshake Murder of Dean O'Banion

Nov 10 2024 32 mins

Send us a text Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an email with whatever is on your mind: chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups! htt

Episode 723 - Chicago Horror: The Grimes Sisters Murders

Oct 25 2024 36 mins

Send us a text Their killings stand out as one of Chicago's most infamous unsolved crimes. Today we’re discussing the Grimes Sisters Murders. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an email with whatever is on your mind: chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in t

Episode 722 - Chicago's Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names

Oct 11 2024 31 mins

Send us a text Have you ever been to Grossdale? Praha? Maybe Swedetown? How about Gregg's Milk Station? I’m sure you’ve been to Hardscrabble, right? Today we’re discussing Chicago’s Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an email with whatever is on your mind: ch