Windy City Historians
Available almost anywhere you get these things & our website.
Special Episode – Champlain’s Dream
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“I find it to be [an] incredibly compelling, and entertaining and enlightening podcast.” — Rick Kogan, newspaper man, radio personality, & noted author
“I just finished listening to the first three episodes of Windy City Historians. Great stuff. Congrats!” — Ethan Michaeli, author of The Defender: How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America
“I don’t think I thanked you guys for your wonderful podcast on the canoe adventure. It was a fun listen. Honored to be part of the Windy City Historians podcast.” — Paul Meincke, Veteran Reporter, ABC 7 Eyewitness News
Latest Episodes
Episode 21 – The Third Star – part III
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:15:00 — 68.7MB)
Episode 20 – The Third Star – part II
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....
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:40 — 55.6MB)
Episode 19 – The Third Star – Part I
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:36 — 55.5MB)
Episode 18 – The Year 1893
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:43 — 55.6MB)
Episode 17 – The Haymarket
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:48 — 53.9MB)
Episode 16: The Second Star – The Fire
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:44 — 54.7MB)
Episode 15: The Stockyards
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:58 — 55.0MB)
Episode 14: A Brewing City
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:38 — 63.8MB)
Episode 13: Early Chicago
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....
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:40 — 51.0MB)
Special Episode: Don’t Sneeze, Cough or Spit!
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:33:21 — 85.5MB)
Episode 12: The First Star – part two
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:07 — 57.9MB)
Episode 11: The First Star
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...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:49 — 54.8MB)